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Single Idea 20169

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

Full Idea

People can usually be described as intending an action under one description, but not under another. ...Consequently the same action may reasonably be said to be both intentional and unintentional.

Gist of Idea

An action may be intended under one description, but not under another

Source

John Kekes (The Human Condition [2010], 07.2)

A Reaction

This is the terrorist/freedom fighter problem. The problem seems to arise with long-term intentions, rather than immediate ones. Maybe it is the significance of the intention, rather than the intention itself?

Book Reference

Kekes,John: 'The Human Condition' [OUP 2010], p.148