The Metaphysics of Action

Trying, Doing, Causing

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Epistemology, Metaphysics
Cover of the book The Metaphysics of Action by David-Hillel Ruben, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David-Hillel Ruben ISBN: 9783319903477
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: June 25, 2018
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan Language: English
Author: David-Hillel Ruben
ISBN: 9783319903477
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: June 25, 2018
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Language: English

In this book, the author provides an account of three central ideas in the philosophy of action: trying to act, acting or doing, and one’s action causing further consequences. In all three cases, novel theories of these phenomena are offered: trying to act is not a particular mental or physical act but can be explained using conditionals; that action is not the same as causing something to happen; and in the case of a special but important subset of actions, for example the opening of a window, the action is identical to the event of the window’s opening. A result of this last account is that it places actions out in the world, sometimes far removed in time and space from the actor’s body. The world is full of action; actions do not just exist in the many little islands of space and time that all of our bodies inhabit. In the final chapter, Ruben describes and discusses a skeptical challenge to the idea that we can ever know whether or not someone else has acted, rather than just passive events having happened to that person. 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In this book, the author provides an account of three central ideas in the philosophy of action: trying to act, acting or doing, and one’s action causing further consequences. In all three cases, novel theories of these phenomena are offered: trying to act is not a particular mental or physical act but can be explained using conditionals; that action is not the same as causing something to happen; and in the case of a special but important subset of actions, for example the opening of a window, the action is identical to the event of the window’s opening. A result of this last account is that it places actions out in the world, sometimes far removed in time and space from the actor’s body. The world is full of action; actions do not just exist in the many little islands of space and time that all of our bodies inhabit. In the final chapter, Ruben describes and discusses a skeptical challenge to the idea that we can ever know whether or not someone else has acted, rather than just passive events having happened to that person. 

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Turkey’s Relations with the Middle East by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics: Performance, Emotion and Situation Awareness by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Youth 2.0: Social Media and Adolescence by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Advanced Decision Making for HVAC Engineers by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Processing of Polymer-based Nanocomposites by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Seeing Cities Through Big Data by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Experimental Perspectives on Presuppositions by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Fundamentals of Robotic Mechanical Systems by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Recent Advances on Soft Computing and Data Mining by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book International Conference on Wireless, Intelligent, and Distributed Environment for Communication by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Developments in Language Theory by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book The Oligarch by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Supported Layered Double Hydroxides as CO2 Adsorbents for Sorption-enhanced H2 Production by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Comparative Genomics by David-Hillel Ruben
Cover of the book Geographies of Disruption by David-Hillel Ruben
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy