Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Rationality of Science', 'Many, but almost one' and 'Springs of Action'

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2 ideas

20. Action / A. Definition of Action / 1. Action Theory

20057	Philosophy of action studies the roles of psychological states in causing behaviour [Mele]
	Full Idea: The central task of the philosophy of action is the exploration of the roles played by a collection of psychological states in the etiology of intentional behaviour.
	From: Alfred R. Mele (Springs of Action [1992], p.3), quoted by Rowland Stout - Action 5 'Psychological'
	A reaction: Stout glosses this as a rather distinctive view, which endorses the causal theory of action (as opposed to citing reasons and justifications for actions). A key debate is whether the psychological inputs really do cause the outputs.

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / c. Reasons as causes

3871	Explaining an action is showing that it is rational [Newton-Smith]
	Full Idea: To explain an action as an action is to show that it is rational.
	From: W.H. Newton-Smith (The Rationality of Science [1981], X.2)