scholarly journals Witgenstein on intention and theory of action

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (RL. 2020. vol.1. no. 2) ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Kirill Rodin
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
General Context ◽  
Intentional States ◽  
Theories Of Action ◽  
Action Theories

In the article we examine Wittgenstein's notes on several action theories in general context of intentional states. We show (based on the articles of Michael Scott) that the kinesthetic theory of action and theories of innervation, which were the object of criticism of Wittgenstein, do not play an essential role for understanding Wittgenstein's texts and therefore in this case the influence of historical and philosophical reconstruction on the understanding of Wittgenstein's corresponding notes can be considered insignificant. Late Wittgenstein's texts are directed against comparatively universal methodological and metaphysical principles. And therefore, criticism of theories of action can only serve as an optional illustration and an optional precondition for interpretation and understanding.

Reasons and Action Explanation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Wald ◽  
Sergio Tenenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Intentional Action ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Action Explanation ◽  
Theories Of Action ◽  
Causal Theories

The problem of deviant causation has been a serious obstacle for causal theories of action. We suggest that attending to the problem of deviant causation reveals two related problems for causal theories. First, it threatens the reductive ambitions of causal theories of intentional action. Second, it suggests that such a theory fails to account for how the agent herself is guided by her reasons. Focusing on the second of these, we argue that the problem of guidance turns out to be related to a number of other issues in the literature on action explanation, and that it is much more general: it threatens not only causal theories but any theory of action. Finally, we suggest that a certain version of the view that acting has a constitutive or formal aim can overcome this problem.

Empirical Evidence against a Cognitivist Theory of Desire and Action

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Cognitive Representation ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Specific Instance ◽  
Theories Of Action

This chapter considers T. M. Scanlon’s (1998) theory of action as a specific instance of cognitivist theories of action. It raises an unusual sort of objection to Scanlon’s cognitivism and its nearest philosophical neighbors: given what is known about the low-level neuroscience of action, there is no reasonable way to interpret the brain’s action-producing neural pathways consistent with this sort of theory. Interpreting the action-producing neural pathways as requiring a cognitive representation of reasons to be involved in action production meets a variety of objections, depending on just which parts of the action-producing neural pathways one interprets as these cognitions about reasons. The chapter proposes that a desire-based interpretation of the neural pathways addresses the obstacles raised to Scanlonian and related cognitivisms and suggests that a desire-based theory of action is thus preferable.

Some Philosophical Prerequisites for a Sociological Theory of Action

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
William I. Torry
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants ◽  
Sociological Theory ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Analytical Philosophy ◽  
Responsibility Attribution ◽  
Theories Of Action

AbstractDrawing on the work of three prominent sociological theorists, the paper elaborates on outstanding flaws in sociological theories of action and agency. These concern a penchant for according social determinants considerably more import than intra-personal factors in explanations of action etiology. Such overly-deterministic perspectives on action, it is argued, can carry little weight in moots over moral and legal responsibility. Analytical philosophy is consulted for guidance on the task of constructing sociological theories of action properly mindful of the internal, psychological realities involved in the production of actions and in the practices of responsibility attribution.

False Connections: Systems and Action Theories in Neofunctionalism and in Jürgen Habermas

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Schwinn
Keyword(s):  
Action Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Jürgen Habermas ◽  
Theoretical Terms ◽  
Jurgen Habermas ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Combination Of Theories ◽  
The Status ◽  
Action Theories

Recent theoretical discussions have served to bridge the gap separating systems- and action-theoretical approaches; however, the question of their basic compatibility has rarely been raised. This paper takes up two efforts at linking systems and action theory: those of neofunctionalists and those of Jürgen Habermas. Neofunctionalists start from the inadequacies of systems functionalism and seek to open it to the theory of action. Habermas, on the other hand, seeks to overcome the limits of the theory of action by widening its scope in systems-theoretical terms. Successful synthesis eludes both efforts: either the status of voluntaristic aspects is so enhanced that the systemic whole and its functional imperatives practically vanish, or too much emphasis is placed on the systemic aspect, reducing actors to the mere executing agents of systemic needs. The combination of theories of structure and action provides a way out of this dilemma.

Causal Theories of Action

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Intentional State ◽  
Causal Connection ◽  
Intentional States ◽  
Bodily Movement ◽  
Composite Event ◽  
Theories Of Action ◽  
The Right ◽  
Causal Theories ◽  
Bodily Movements

Causal theories of action are attempts to develop an account of actions in terms of events (typically bodily movements and their effects) which have the right kind of causal ancestry. The causal ancestry must be traced back to some kind of intentional state (or combination of intentional states) in the agent, such intentional state (or states) must have the right kind of content, and it must cause the bodily movement (or other effect) in the ‘right’ way. Causal accounts differ on the nature of the intentional state, the nature of the content it must have, and the specification of the ‘right’ kind of causal connection to bodily movements or other effects. Causal accounts also differ on the identification of the action itself. Some acounts say that the action is the bodily movement, provided that it was caused in the right way and had the right kind of effects. Others identify the action with the triggering intentional state (called a volition or trying), provided that it has the right kind of effects. Yet others identify the action with the composite event of the intentional state's causing the appropriate effects. Finally there are those which fail to identify the action with any of these events or combinations of them.

scholarly journals Drivers of plate waste: A mini theory of action based on staff observations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Dolnicar ◽  
Emil Juvan
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Plate Waste ◽  
Science Theory ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Service Staff ◽  
Theories Of Action ◽  
Plate Size

Restaurants waste one fifth of the food they buy; much is left behind on people's plates (Engström & Carlsson-Kanyama, 2004). Plate waste forces restaurants to buy more food than necessary, and to pay for food waste disposal; and burdens the environment, with agriculture “a dominant force behind…climate change” (Foley et al., 2011, p.337).Plate waste is under-researched in tourism (Gössling & Peeters, 2015), with buffets being particularly wasteful (15 g per person per day at breakfast; Juvan, Grün, & Dolnicar, 2018). Only two measures are proven to reduce plate waste at hotel buffets: smaller plates, and explaining to guests that getting seconds is better than taking too much at once (Kallbekken & Sælen, 2013). Social science theories underlie these effective practical measures: the idea of plate size reduction stems from obesity theory; and inviting patrons back leverages social norms. The present study develops a new “mini-theory of action” (Rossiter, 2011, p.119) to inform the development a wider range of practical measures for plate waste reduction. Mini-theories of action formulate possible reasons for human behaviour, opening these hypothesized cause-and-effect relationships up for empirical testing in real behavioural contexts (Rossiter, 2011). Mini-theories of action, arguably, are the starting point for any new social science theory. As such, our study's contribution is primarily theoretical. Pathways to practical impact are discussed.We conducted unstructured interviews with 10 chefs and 23 waiters/waitresses (of varying gender and work experience) in three four-star rated hotels serving buffet-style meals to 300–1200 guests daily. We asked why guests leave uneaten food behind. Service staff observe and talk to guests daily, frequently checking if they are finished. In response, guests offer explanations why some food remains uneaten. Chefs design menus to minimize food waste. We identify specific drivers of plate waste, and seven overarching themes.

scholarly journals Does a theory of action approach help teachers engage in evidence-informed self-improvement?

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane D. Flood ◽  
Chris Brown
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Practices ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Specific Approach ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Theories Of Action

This article reports on how using Theories of Action (TofA) can help teachers scale up evidence-informed teaching practices by aiding their understanding of why such interventions have been effective and which aspects are key to driving change. This paper reports on a specific approach: a partnership between an academic and three schools. The findings based on interviews with 15 teachers and school leaders (the whole of the federation's teaching staff), and pre- and post-intervention surveys (undertaken with 13 staff members) suggests that the scale-up of evidence-informed practice, when aided by TofAs, can lead to substantial impact on teacher and pupil outcomes. The paper concludes that the effective scale-up of evidence-informed interventions is grounded in teachers' understanding of why interventions have been successful and how that success might be realized in a new context. Correspondingly, when teachers are shown how to use TofAs to tailor interventions, this helps them ascertain how such interventions can be realized most effectively in their own settings.

Faint Hα Emission in the Corona and Its Relation to the Prominences

1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 339-342
Author(s):  
V. N. Dermendjiev ◽  
Z. Mouradian ◽  
J.- L. Leroy ◽  
P. Duchlev
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Corona ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Hα Emission

AbstractThe relation between episodically observed in the solar corona faint Hαemission structures and the long lived prominences was studied. Particular consideration was given for cases in which the corresponding prominences had undergone DB process. An MHD interpretation of the phenomenon “emissions froides” (cool emission) is proposed in which an essential role plays the prominence supporting magnetic field.

Freeze-fracture observations on changes in the distribution of Filipin-sterol complexes during epididymal maturation and capacitation of boar spermatozoa

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-91
Author(s):  
N. Seki ◽  
Y. Toyama ◽  
T. Nagano
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Final Concentration ◽  
Freeze Fracturing ◽  
Physiological Conditions ◽  
Epididymal Maturation ◽  
Cacodylate Buffer ◽  
Sperm Membrane ◽  
Boar Spermatozoa

It is believed that i ntramembra.nous sterols play an essential role in membrane stability and permeability. To investigate the distribution changes of sterols in sperm membrane during epididymal maturation and capacitation, filipin has been used as a cytochemical probe for the detection for membrane sterols. Using this technique in combination with freeze fracturing, we examined the boar spermatozoa under various physiological conditions.The spermatozoa were collected from: 1) caput, corpus and cauda epididymides, 2) sperm rich fraction of ejaculates, and 3)the uterus 2hr after natural coition. They were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.05M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4), and treated with the filipin solution (final concentration : 0.02.0.05%) for 24hr at 4°C with constant agitation. After the filipin treatment, replicas were made by conventional freeze-fracture technique. The density of filipin-sterol complexes (FSCs) was determined in the E face of the plasma membrane of head regions.

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