Single Idea 22372

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism]

Full Idea

We do not expect that everything a rational man does should be done with a motive, ...but we do expect a man to have a motive for many things that he does, and would count anyone who constantly performed troublesome actions without a motive as irrational.

Gist of Idea

Not all actions need motives, but it is irrational to perform troublesome actions with no motive

Source

Philippa Foot (Free Will as Involving Determinism [1957], p.66)

Book Reference

Foot,Philippa: 'Virtues and Vices' [Blackwell 1981], p.66


A Reaction

Interestng, because the assessment of whether someone is 'rational' therefore needs a criterion for when a motive seems required and when not. 'Significant' actions need a motive?