Graduate school -course

Although a philosophy of action has been central to numerous philosophical systems from Plato to Kant, it is only in recent years that it has come to be seen as a subject in its own right. Topics in the philosophy of action range from questions about ontology and individuation to issues of agency and responsibility. Are actions events or processes? Are they caused by our reasons for performing them and if so where is agency to be located? If we always do what we think is best in what sense can we be held responsible for our mistakes? The course will consist of lectures and seminars (12 hours in total) addressing some of the central contemporary debates in the field via close readings of certain texts. The first day is dedicated to the nature of action and its relation to agents. The second day explores questions about motivation and explanation. The third day focuses on the age-old assumption that we always act in the light of some perceived good.

The participants are encouraged to read the following six papers in advance, the course will partly be in seminar format. There’s a separate list of background & further readings.

Study materials

The intensive course includes 12 hours of lectures and seminars. The mentioned preliminary readings are available for registered participants. A further reading list provided for further essays and more credits.

Credits by active participation and a lecture diary (2 ects). An essay based on further reading plus a lecture diary (5 ects).

Further information

further info: arto.laitinen@uta.fi

Background Reading

Philosophical Investigations §§611-628

     Ludwig Wittgenstein

Intention §§23-7

      G.E.M. Anscombe

Shooting, Killing, Dying

    Jonathan Bennett

The Problem of Action

    Harry G. Frankfurt

Agency and Actions

    Jennifer Hornsby

Acting, Willing, Desiring

    H.A. Prichard

 The Will

    Gilbert Ryle

The Ontology of Social Agency

      Frederick Stoutland

Actions, Reasons, and Causes

      Donald Davidson

Acting for a Reason

      Christine Korsgaard

Arational Actions

      Rosalind Hursthouse

 Scepticism about Weakness of Will

      Gary Watson                

Historical Explanations of Actions Reconsidered

      William Dray

Reasons and Covering Laws

      Carl G. Hempel

The Explanatory Role of Being Rational

      Michael Smith 

Psychological vs. Biological Explanations of Behavior

Fred Dretske