Single Idea 22393

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

Full Idea

I am sure I do not understand the idea of a reason for acting, and I wonder whether anyone else does either. I incline to the view that all such reasons depend either on the agent's interests (meaning here what is in his interest) or else on his desires.

Gist of Idea

I don't understand the idea of a reason for acting, but it is probably the agent's interests or desires

Source

Philippa Foot (Reasons for Actions and Desires [1972], p.156 Post)

Book Reference

Foot,Philippa: 'Virtues and Vices' [Blackwell 1981], p.156


A Reaction

It seems common to assume that a reason for an action must be something rational, but it makes sense to say that the reason for someone's action was an irrational whim. Is the reason for an action just the cause of the action?