A Companion to the Philosophy of Action [Paperback]

• 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

Notes on Contributors xiii

Preface to the Paperback Edition xxii

Acknowledgments xxiii

Introduction xxiv

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
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