Single Idea 20045

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 2. Acting on Beliefs / a. Acting on beliefs]

Full Idea

Whenever someone does something for a reason he can be characterised as (a) having some sort of pro attitude towards action of a certain kind, and (b) believing (or knowing, perceiving, noticing, remembering) that his action is of that kind.

Gist of Idea

Acting for a reason is a combination of a pro attitude, and a belief that the action is appropriate

Source

Donald Davidson (Action, Reasons and Causes [1963], p.3-4), quoted by Rowland Stout - Action 3 'The belief-'

Book Reference

Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.34


A Reaction

This is the earlier Davidson roughly endorsing the traditional belief-desire account of action. He is giving a reductive account of reasons. Deciding reasons were not reducible may have led him to property dualism.