Contemporary Action Theory Volume 1: Individual Action

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Explanation and Understanding of Actions

   • Georg Henrik von Wright

   Pages 1-20

3. Von Wright and Collingwood on Causation and the Explanation of Human Action

   • Rex Martin

   Pages 21-43

4. Metaphysical Foundations of Action Explanation

   • Ausonio Marras

   Pages 45-64

5. Reasons as Causes For Action

   • George Wilson

   Pages 65-82

6. On States, Actions, Omissions and Norms

   • Risto Hilpinen

   Pages 83-107

7. Actions in Action

   • Ghita Holmström-Hintikka

   Pages 109-134

8. Passive Action

   • Alfred R. Mele

   Pages 135-143

9. On Ability, Opportunity and Competence: An Inquiry Into People’s Possibility for Action

   • Lennart Nordenfelt

   Pages 145-158

10. Actions and Inconsistency: The Closure Problem of Practical Reasoning

    • Douglas Walton

    Pages 159-175

11. Intending and Its Place in the Theory of Action

    • Robert Audi

    Pages 177-196

12. Intention and Intentional Action

    • Myles Brand

    Pages 197-217

13. On When the Will is Free

    • Hugh J. McCann

    Pages 219-232

14. When is an Action Free?

    • Gottfried Seebass

    Pages 233-250

15. Naturalising Mental Action

    • John Bishop

    Pages 251-266

16. Doing Without Happenings: Three Theories of Action

    • David-Hillel Ruben

    Pages 267-286

17. Cognitive Trying

    • Frederick Adams

    Pages 287-314

18. Back Matter

    Pages 315-317

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Contemporary Action Theory, Volume I (Individual Action) is concerned with topics in philosophical action theory such as reasons and causes of action, intentions, freedom of will and of action, omissions and norms in legal and ethical contexts, as well as activity, passivity and competence from medical points of view. Cognitive trying, freedom of the will and agent causation are challenges in the discussion on computers in action. The Volume consists of contributions by leading experts in the field written specifically for this volume. No comparable volume currently exists.

• action theory
• freedom
• will

• Boston University, USA

  Ghita Holmström-Hintikka

• University of Helsinki, Finland

  Ghita Holmström-Hintikka

• Academy of Finland, Finland

  Raimo Tuomela

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