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Single Idea 23146

[filed under theme 20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 1. Intention to Act / a. Nature of intentions ]

Full Idea

Motives will cause persons for form intentions; it is intentions which more directly guide actions.

Gist of Idea

Motives produce intentions, which lead to actions

Source

Julia Driver (The Virtues and Human Nature [1996], 3)

Book Ref

'How Should One Live? On the Virtues', ed/tr. Crisp,Roger [OUP 1998], p.117

A Reaction

This is invites the question of whether there is a sharp distinction between the motive and the action. Detectives look for motives, but law courts look for intentions.

The 6 ideas from 'The Virtues and Human Nature'

23144 Virtue should be defined by consequences, not by states of mind [Driver]
23148 Virtues are character traits or dispositions which produce good consequences for others [Driver]
23146 Motives produce intentions, which lead to actions [Driver]
23147 Good intentions are not necessary for virtue [Driver]
23150 Control of pregnancy and knowledge of paternity have downgraded chastity [Driver]
23149 If generosity systematically turned recipients into parasites, it wouldn't be a virtue [Driver]