A Companion to the Philosophy of Action [Hardcover]

• The first volume to survey the entire field of philosophy of action (the central issues and processes relating to human actions)
• Brings together specially commissioned chapters from international experts
• Discusses a range of ideas and doctrines, including rationality, free will and determinism, virtuous action, criminal responsibility, Attribution Theory, and rational agency in evolutionary perspective
• Individual chapters also cover prominent historic figures from Plato to Ricoeur
• Can be approached as a complete narrative, but also serves as a work of reference
• Offers rich insights into an area of philosophical thought that has attracted thinkers since the time of the ancient Greeks

List of Illustrations x

Notes on Contributors xi

Acknowledgments xx

Introduction xxi

Part I Acts and Actions 1

1 Action Theory and Ontology 3
E. J. Lowe

2 Basic Actions and Individuation 10
Constantine Sandis

3 Trying to Act 18
Jennifer Hornsby

4 Bodily Movements 26
Adrian Haddock

5 The Causal Theory of Action 32
Wayne A. Davis

6 Adverbs of Action and Logical Form 40
Kirk Ludwig

7 Refraining, Omitting, and Negative Acts 50
Kent Bach

8 Speech Acts 58
Mitchell S. Green

9 CollectivlCÜ