The metaphysics of agency
Mainstream philosophy of action and mind construes intentional behaviour in terms of causal processes that lead from agent-involving mental states to action. Actions are construed as events, which are actions in virtue of being caused by the right mental antecedents in the right way. Opponents of this standard event-causal approach have criticised the view on various grounds; they argue that it does not account for free will and moral responsibility, that it does not account for action done in the light of reasons, or, even, that it cannot capture the very phenomenon of agency. The thesis defends the standard event-causal approach against challenges of that kind. In the first chapter I consider theories that stipulate an irreducible metaphysical relation between the agent (or the self) and the action. I argue that such theories do not add anything to our understanding of human agency, and that we have, therefore, no reason to share the metaphysically problematic assumptions on which those alternative models are based. In the second chapter I argue for the claim that reason-explanations of actions are causal explanations, and I argue against non-causal alternatives. My main point is that the causal approach
Schlosser, Markus E.
Philosophy of action ; Philosophy of mind ; Free will ; Reasons and causes ; BD450.S6 ; Agent (Philosophy) ; Philosophy of mind ; Free will and determinism ; Causation
The metaphysics of agency. Mainstream philosophy of action and mind construes intentional behaviour in terms of causal processes that lead from agent-involving mental states to action. Actions are construed as events, which are actions in virtue of being caused by the right mental antecedents in the right way. Opponents of this standard event-causal approach have criticised the view on various grounds; they argue that it does not account for free will and moral responsibility, that it does not account for action done in the light of reasons, or, even, that it cannot capture the very phenomenon of agency. The thesis defends the standard event-causal approach against challenges of that kind. In the first chapter I consider theories that stipulate an irreducible metaphysical relation between the agent (or the self) and the action. I argue that such theories do not add anything to our understanding of human agency, and that we have, therefore, no reason to share the metaphysically problematic assumptions on which those alternative models are based. In the second chapter I argue for the claim that reason-explanations of actions are causal explanations, and I argue against non-causal alternatives. My main point is that the causal approach
metaphysics agency mainstream philosophy_action mind construe intentional behaviour term causal_process lead agent mental_state action construe event action virtue cause right mental antecedent right way standard event causal criticise view various ground argue account free moral_responsibility account action light reason even capture phenomenon agency defends standard event causal challenge kind first consider theory stipulate irreducible metaphysical relation agent self action argue theory add anything human_agency therefore reason share metaphysically problematic assumption alternative_model base second_argue claim reason action causal_explanation argue non_causal alternative main_point causal