DOI: 10.1111/ejop.70131 ISSN: 0966-8373

An Argument for Minimalism about Action

Robin T. Bianchi
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Abstract

Minimalism is the view that the mark of action is object‐causation, rather than intentionality, voluntariness or goal‐directedness. Actions, on this view, are instances of objects causing change. Despite a recent surge of interest in the view, it is still seldom regarded as a serious alternative to orthodox theories of action, according to which action is, by its nature, intentional, voluntary, or, more broadly, a psychological phenomenon. This paper argues that it should. It provides a simple argument for regarding minimalism as the default view of the nature of action.

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