Single Idea 20079

[catalogued under 20. Action / A. Definition of Action / 2. Duration of an Action]

Full Idea

Are actions identical with bodily movements? Or are they identical with sequences of things starting inside the agent's mind with their intentions, going through their body movements and finishing with the external results being achieved?

Gist of Idea

Are actions bodily movements, or a sequence of intention-movement-result?

Source

Rowland Stout (Action [2005], 9 'What is action')

Book Reference

Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.137


A Reaction

If bodily movements are crucial, this presumably eliminates speech acts. Speech or writing may involve some movement, but the movement is almost irrelevant to the nature of the action. Telepathy would do equally well.