Are all actions movements of the agent's body?

Kriterion - Journal of Philosophy 24 (1):52-64 (2011)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Davidson famously contended that all actions are movements of the agent's body. It has been objected, however, that Davidson's view is incompatible with his own definition of primitive actions. This paper argues that this objection is based on an incorrect reading of Davidson's argument. I will show that by reading 'movements', in 'all actions are bodily movements', transitively, Davidson's definition of primitive actions ceases to contradict with his thesis that all actions are bodily movements.

Similar books and articles

The explanatory role of being rational.Michael Smith - 2009 - In David Sobel & Steven Wall (eds.), Reasons for Action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 58--80.
Do actions occur inside the body?Helen Steward - 2000 - Mind and Society 1 (2):107-125.
Actions.Jennifer Hornsby - 1980 - Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Actions and Bodily Movements.James Montmarquet - 1978 - Analysis 38 (3):137 - 140.
On Seeing Bodily Movements as Actions.Virgil C. Aldrich - 1967 - American Philosophical Quarterly 4 (3):222 - 230.
Bodily Movements, Actions, and Mental Epistemology.Jennifer Hornsby - 1986 - Midwest Studies in Philosophy 10 (1):275-286.
Action, control and sensations of acting.Benjamin Mossel - 2005 - Philosophical Studies 124 (2):129-180.
Philosophy of Action.Alfred R. Mele - 2003 - In Kirk Ludwig (ed.), Donald Davidson. Cambridge University Press.

Analytics

Added to PP
2012-11-23

Downloads
317 (#61,224)

6 months
81 (#52,387)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Julian Fink
Universität Bayreuth

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Thinking causes.Donald Davidson - 1992 - In John Heil & Alfred R. Mele (eds.), Mental Causation. Oxford University Press. pp. 1993--3.
Agents and their actions.Maria Alvarez & John Hyman - 1998 - Philosophy 73 (2):219-245.
Problems in the explanation of action.Donald Davidson - 1987 - In Philip Pettit, Richard Sylvan & J. Norman (eds.), Metaphysics and Morality. Blackwell.
Action and responsibility.Joel Feinberg - 1964 - In Max Black (ed.), Philosophy in America. Ithaca: Routledge. pp. 134--160.

Add more references