Philosophy of Action

Basic Information

Course modules 2025/2026
Lecturer
David Pineda
Semester
1st.
University
Universitat de Girona
Module
Module 6. Theories of Rationality
Code
570635
Credits
5
Language
English

Dates

Schedule
Wednesdays 16:00 - 19:00
Location
At the Faculty of Philosophy of the UB, 4th floor. Seminari Juan Lluis Vives (Philosophy Department)

Description

The course will offer a survey and discussion of the main contemporary philosophical views on actions. Topics discussed will include: the causal theory of action; the ontology of action; intentions; normative reasons and motivating reasons; practical knowledge; weakness of will; omissions; mental actions; arational actions.

Structure:
· First five sessions: general introduction.
· Six next sessions: discussion of six mandatory readings.


Contents:
1. The Causal Theory of Action. Davidson’s view and its problems. The problem of causal deviance.
2. The ontology of action. Davidson’s conception of action as events consisting in bodily movements. Other views. Basic actions.
3. Intentions. Bratman’s functional conception of intention. The Simple View and its problems.
4. Reasons. The distinction between normative and motivating reasons for actions. Reason internalism and its problems.
5. Practical knowledge. Anscombe’s conception of actions. The inferential view of practical knowledge. The two-factor view.
6. Weakness of will. Davidson’s account and their critics. Motivation and evaluation. Akratic agents versus akratic actions.
7. Omissions. Intentional and unintentional omissions. Intentional omissions and the causal theory of agency.

8. Mental actions. The problem of proliferation. The problem of circularity.
9. Arational actions. Expressive actions.

 

Learning outcomes

· Understanding of the main positions in contemporary philosophy of action.

· Understanding of most of the key notions and arguments used in contemporary philosophy of
action.


· Capacity to apply these notions in a philosophical debate in a competent manner.


· Development of the ability to articulate one’s own position in this debate (at least provisionally), and to defend it in argument.


This contributes to the following competences promoted by the master’s degree in Analytic Philosophy:


· Competent use of the terminology, concepts and methods used in contemporary analytic philosophy, and their employment in the argumentative defence of a position.


· Ability to identify the current state of a particular philosophical debate, and form a reasoned view, albeit provisional, about it.


· Ability to conduct a philosophical discussion (orally and in written form), by putting forward, for example, general arguments or specific examples, in support of one’s position.


· Ability to work independently as well as in a team, in an international context.


· Independent and creative application of one’s knowledge to new problems, i.e., the ability to employ knowledge and abilities acquired in one area in order to address new problems or problems in different areas.


· Development of the ability to conduct philosophical research in an independent and autonomous way (as is required, for example, in pursuing doctoral studies).

 

Methodology

During the first five sessions the professor will introduce all the topics of the syllabus with a suggested bibliography.

Each of the next six sessions will be devoted to the discussion of one of the six mandatory readings of the course. The readings will cover all of the topics of the course and will be selected among the most relevant contemporary philosophical published work on actions. The readings will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Evaluation

· Paper of 3000 words. After the five introductory sessions, the professor will distribute a list of topics together with a bibliographical selection for each topic. Topics other than those in the list may also be considered but need to be consulted with the professor. This will ponder 50%.
· Presentation, or co-presentation, of one of the six mandatory readings: 30 %.
· Participation in class, especially in the discussion sessions of the readings: 20%.
· Students not reaching a final grade of 5 or more but such that they have obtained 3 or more will be reevaluated by answering a list of questions about the contents of the course delivered by the teacher in due time.

Bibliography

· Anscombe, G, Intention, Harvard U.P., 1958.
· Davidson, D., Essays on Actions and Events, Clarendon, 1982.
· Bratman, M., Intention, Plans, and Practical Reasoning, Harvard U.P., 1987.
· O’Connor & Sandis (eds.), A Companion to the Philosophy of Action, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
· O’Brien, L., Philosophy of Action, Palgrave, 2015.
· Paul, S., Philosophy of Action, Routledge, 2021.
· Shepherd, J., The Shape of Agency, Oxford U.P., 2021.