Philosophy of Action

This volume contains notable essays on philosophy of action based on the Royal Institute of Philosophy lecture series.

Anthony O'Hear (Edited by)

9781108414890, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 August 2017

300 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.43 kg

Philosophy of Action is based on the lectures given in the Royal Institute of Philosophy's annual London lecture series 2015–16. This volume brings together an internationally distinguished team of lecturers. As befits the theme itself, a wide range of topics relating to action are covered. These include the nature of action itself and its relation to knowledge-how. There are a number of papers on issues relating to freedom and responsibility, and also to the relation between action and causation. Other papers consider the notion of planning in relation to agency, and the connection between agency and practical abilities. And there are also considerations of virtue and ethical concepts as applied to the notion of action. The papers collected here will testify to the liveliness of discussions of action in contemporary philosophy, and will also demonstrate the way many ancient conceptions of action are being developed in contemporary philosophical thought.

1. The scope of intention: action, conduct, and responsibility Robert Audi
2. Rational planning agency Michael E. Bratman
3. Two libertarian theories: or why event-causal libertarians should prefer my daring libertarian view to Robert Kane's view Alfred R. Mele
4. Are character traits dispositions? Maria Alvarez
5. Knowledge how in philosophy of action Jennifer Hornsby
6. The doing and the deed: action in normative ethics Constantine Sandis
7. Prichard on causing a change Jonathan Dancy
8. Motor skill and moral virtue Ellen Fridland
9. Forms of rational agency Douglas Lavin
10. Action as downward causation Helen Steward
11. The representation of action Anton Ford
12. Agency and practical abilities Will Small
13. Actions as prime Lucy O'Brien.

Subject Areas: Popular philosophy [HPX], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], History of Western philosophy [HPC], Philosophy [HP]