Full Idea
Should we try to understand what it is to have an intention in terms of what it is to act intentionally, or should we try to understand what it is to have an intention independently of what it is to act intentionally?
Gist of Idea
Should we study intentions in their own right, or only as part of intentional action?
Source
Rowland Stout (Action [2005], 7 'Acting')
Book Reference
Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.99
A Reaction
Since you can have an intention to act, and yet fail to act, it seems possible to isolate intentions, but not to say a lot about them. Intention may be different prior to actions, and during actions. Early Davidson offered the derived view.