Single Idea 20053

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions]

Full Idea

For action to be properly yours it must be you who is the causal originator of the action, rather than some state or event within you.

Gist of Idea

An action is only yours if you produce it, rather than some state or event within you

Source

Rowland Stout (Action [2005], 4 'Agent')

Book Reference

Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.63


A Reaction

[He invokes Chisholm 1966] The idea here is that we require not only 'agent causation', but that the concept of agent must include free will. It seems right we ought to know whether or not an action is 'mine'. Nothing too fancy is needed for this!