Wiley-Blackwell A Companion to the Philosophy of Action: 46 (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy)

A Companion to the Philosophy of Action offers a comprehensive overview of the issues and problems central to the philosophy of action. 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 Review “I recommend this volume to all those with any interest in the concepts treated in the philosophy of action.”  (Philosophy in Review, 1 December 2012) "The collection is a critically important resource for scholars of the philosophy of action. The overall clarity of the entries, moreover, also makes it accessible as a resource for undergraduate and graduate students working in the area. Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers." (Choice, 1 March 2011) "O'Connor and Sandis have edited a wide-ranging, accessible collection that will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of action. Highly recommended." (Metapsychology Online Reviews, 12 April 2011) Review "This companion is a welcome addition to philosophical literature, asserting a kind of sovereignty over a territory often visited in philosophical discussions of mind, ethics and metaphysics, but not given any kind of independence. In asking us to regard the human action not merely as a part of other areas of philosophical investigation, but as one worth considering on its own, this Companion should be applauded. One particularly good feature of the book is that all the entries are substantial: while one can treat it as a reference work, readers will find it rewarding to read straight through the entries in a given section." —Samuel Guttenplan, Birkbeck, University of London From the Inside Flap A Companion tothe 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 tothe Philosophy of Action offers rich insights into an area of philosophical thought that has attracted thinkers since the time of the ancient Greeks. From the Back Cover A Companion tothe 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, fre