A Companion to the Philosophy of Action

A Companion to the Philosophy of Action provides a comprehensive overview of the central issues and processes relating to human actions. Specially commissioned chapters from international experts cover all facets of philosophy of action - from key figures and terminology to some of the more controversial problems in the field.

Divided into thematic sections, the book begins by examining ontological and conceptual issues regarding the nature of action, its description and individuation, and its motivation and causation. Later sections focus on a range of ideas and doctrines associated with action theory, 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.

A Companion to the Philosophy of Action offers rich insights into an area of philosophical thought that has attracted thinkers since the time of the ancient Greeks.