Research Catalog

Reasons in action a reductionist account of intentional action

Title
Reasons in action [electronic resource] : a reductionist account of intentional action / Ingmar Persson.
Author
Persson, Ingmar
Publication
Oxford ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2019.

Available Online

Available onsite at NYPL

Details

Uniform Title
Reasons in action (Online)
Alternative Title
Reasons in action (Online)
Subject
  • Act (Philosophy)
  • Intentionalism
  • Reductionism
  • Reason
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access (note)
  • Access restricted to authorized users.
ISBN
9780192583666
LCCN
2019939267
OCLC
ssj0002256717
Author
Persson, Ingmar.
Title
Reasons in action [electronic resource] : a reductionist account of intentional action / Ingmar Persson.
Imprint
Oxford ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2019.
Edition
First edition.
Description
1 online resource (171 pages)
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access
Access restricted to authorized users.
Summary
Ingmar Persson offers an original view of the processes of human action: deliberating on the basis of reasons for and against actions, making a decision about what to do, and from there implementing the decision in action in a way that makes the action intentional. Persson's analysis is mainly developed to suit physical actions, though how it needs to be modified to cover mental acts is also discussed. The interpretation of intentional action that is presented is reductionist in the sense that it does not appeal to any concepts that are distinctive of the domain of action theory, such as a unique type of agent-causation, or irreducible mental acts, like acts of will, volitions, decisions, or tryings. Nor does it appeal to any unanalyzed attitudes or states essentially related to intentional action, like intentions and desires to act. Instead, the intentionality of actions is construed as springing from desires conceived as physical states of agents which cause facts because of the way agents think of them. A sense of our having responsibility that is sufficient for our acting for reasons is also sketched out.
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