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What is the relation between an instrumental action and the outcome (or outcomes) to which it is directed?
What are intentions?
dilemma
- need to avoid taking a side in philosophical debate about intention (Setiya, 2014)
- cannot say nothing about what intention is (because want to consider Standard Solution)
INTENTION | yes | no |
Is it a mental state? | Davidson (1978) | Thompson (2008) |
Is it a belief? | Velleman (1989) | Bratman (1987) |
Entails belief? | Harman (1976) | Levy (2018) |
Linked to planning? | (Bratman, 1985) | |
Incompatible with habitual? | Kalis & Ometto (2021) | |
Entails non-observational knowledge | Anscombe (1957) | |
Comes in two kinds? | Searle (1983) | Brozzo (2021) |
What are intentions?
dilemma
- need to avoid taking a side in philosophical debate about intention (Setiya, 2014)
- cannot say nothing about what intention is (because want to consider Standard Solution)
Why postulate intentions at all?
~Hunnius ?
desire bananas
(stronger) desire chocolate
What are intentions?
dilemma
- need to avoid taking a side in philosophical debate about intention (Setiya, 2014)
- cannot say nothing about what intention is (because want to consider Standard Solution)
Why postulate intentions at all? ✔
Intention : minimal assumptions
desire | I fill Zak’s glass. |
belief | If I pour, I will fill Zak’s glass. |
intention | I pour to fill Zak’s glass. |
Simple Picture (again)
When you act,
there are reasons why you act;
you know the reasons;
you act because you know the reasons; and
the reasons justify your action.
What is the relation between an instrumental action and the outcome (or outcomes) to which it is directed?
Intention!
The outcome (or outcomes) to which an instrumental action is directed is that outcome (or outcomes) specified by the intention (or intentions) which caused it.
Is that all?