Single Idea 20021

[catalogued under 20. Action / A. Definition of Action / 4. Action as Movement]

Full Idea

Some philosophers have favored the overt arm movement the agent performs, some favor the extended causal process he initiates, and some prefer the relevant event of trying that precedes and 'generates' the rest.

Gist of Idea

Is the action the arm movement, the whole causal process, or just the trying to do it?

Source

Wilson,G/Schpall,S (Action [2012], 1.2)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.5


A Reaction

[Davidson argues for the second, Hornsby for the third] There seems no way to settle this, and a compromise looks best. Mere movement won't do, and mere trying won't do, and whole processes get out of control.

Related Idea

Idea 20020 If one action leads directly to another, they are all one action [Davidson, by Wilson/Schpall]