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.
Clarification
'Etiology' is causal history
Gist of Idea
Philosophy of action studies the roles of psychological states in causing behaviour
Source
Alfred R. Mele (Springs of Action [1992], p.3), quoted by Rowland Stout - Action 5 'Psychological'
Book Reference
Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.72
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.