The intentionality of intention and action
- 1 January 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Inquiry
- Vol. 22 (1-4) , 253-280
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00201747908601876
Abstract
This article presents a sketch of a theory of action. It does so by locating the relation of intention to action ‐vithin a general theory of Intentionality. It introduces a distinction between ptiorintentions and intentions in actions; the concept of the experience of acting; and the thesis that both prior intentions and intentions in action are causally self‐referential. Each of these is independently motivated, but together they allow suggested solutions to several outstanding problems within action theory (deviant causal chains, the accordion effect, basic actions, etc.); the demonstration of striking similarities between the logical structure of intentional action and the logical structure of perception; and the construction of an account of simple actions. A successfully performed intentional action characteristically consists of an intention in action together with the bodily movement or state of the agent which is its condition of satisfaction and which is caused by it. The account is extended to complex actions.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Trying to bridge some neuropsychological gaps between monkey and manBritish Journal of Psychology, 1977