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Single Idea 20020

[filed under theme 20. Action / A. Definition of Action / 2. Duration of an Action ]

Full Idea

Davidson (1980 ess 1) agreed with Anscombe that if a person Fs by G-ing, then her act F = her act G. For example, if someone accidentally alerts a burglar, by deliberately turning on a light, by flipping a switch, these are all the same action.

Gist of Idea

If one action leads directly to another, they are all one action

Source

report of Donald Davidson (Action, Reasons and Causes [1963]) by Wilson,G/Schpall,S - Action 1.2

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.4


A Reaction

I would have thought there was obviously a strong conventional element in individuating actions, depending on interest. An electrician is only interest in whether the light worked. The police are only interested in the disturbance of the burglar.

Related Idea

Idea 20021 Is the action the arm movement, the whole causal process, or just the trying to do it? [Wilson/Schpall]