Full Idea
Intentional actions are those to which a certain sense of the question 'Why?' is given application; the sense is of course that in which the answer, if positive, gives a reason for acting.
Gist of Idea
Intentional actions are those which are explained by giving the reason for so acting
Source
G.E.M. Anscombe (Intention [1957], p.9), quoted by Rowland Stout - Action 2 'Two kinds'
Book Reference
Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.15
A Reaction
This works better for grand large-scale actions than for small ones, like taking the knife out of the drawer before the fork. Kahnemann nowadays tells us that the reasons we articulate might not be the ones that are operative.
Related Idea
Idea 20044 The rationalistic approach says actions are intentional when subject to justification [Stout,R]