Agent Causality

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-vii

   PDF

2. Problems with the Common Sense Theory of Action

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 1-22

3. Frankfurt’s Solution

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 23-24

4. Theories of Agent Causality

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 25-41

5. Persons

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 42-71

6. Reflective Consciousness

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 72-92

7. Empirical Research

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 93-102

8. The Epi-Phenomenalist Problem

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 103-114

9. Is the Self a Social Construction

   • Fred Vollmer

   Pages 115-133

10. Darkness, Madness and Childhood

    • Fred Vollmer

    Pages 134-153

11. Overall Summary and Conclusions

    • Fred Vollmer

    Pages 154-156

12. Back Matter

    Pages 157-168

    PDF

We act for reasons. But, it is sometimes claimed, the mental states and events that make up reasons, are not sufficient conditions of actions. Reasons never make actions happen. We- as agents (persons, selves, subjects) - make our actions happen. Actions are done by us, not elicited by reasons. The present essay is an attempt to understand this concept of agent causality. Who -~ or what - is an agent ? And how - in virtue of what - does an agent do things, or refrain from doing them? The first chapter deals with problems in the theory of action that seem to require the assumption that actions are controlled by agents. Chapters two and three then review and discuss theories of agent cau­ sality. Chapters four and five make up the central parts of the essay in which my own solution is put forth, and chapter six presents some data that seem to support this view. Chapter seven discusses how the theory can be reconciled with neuro-physiological facts. And in the last two chapters the theory is confronted with conflicting viewpoints and phe­ nomena. Daniel Robinson and Richard Swinburne took time to read parts of the manuscript in draft form. Though they disagree with my main viewpoints on the nature of the self, their conunents were very helpful. I hereby thank them both.

• Enzo Paci
• action theory
• causality
• concept
• consciousness
• construction
• intention
• psychology
• subject
• tradition

• Department of Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway

  Fred Vollmer

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