Theory of Human Action

Alvin I. Goldman

Published by Princeton University Press 1977

Theory of Human Action

Alvin I. Goldman

Volume 1830 in the series Princeton Legacy Library

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400868971

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book articulates an original scheme for the conceptualization of action. Beginning with a new approach to the individuation of acts, it delineates the relationships between basic and non-basic acts and uses these relationships in the definition of ability and intentional action. The author exhibits the central role of wants and beliefs in the causation of acts and in the analysis of the concept of action.

Professor Goldman suggests answers to fundamental questions about acts, and develops a set of ideas and principles that can be used in the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of language, ethics, and other fields, including the behavioral sciences.

Originally published in 1977.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
I. Contents Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
II. The Structure of Action Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	20
III. Intentional Action Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	49
IV. Wanting Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	86
V. Explonofions of Action in the Behoviorol Sciences Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
VI. Determinism and Predictability Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	170
VII. Ability, Excuses, and Constraint Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
Epilogue A Look Bock and A Look Ahead Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	222
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227