ACTION THEORY

Philosophy 736-960-001

University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Spring 2002

Course Description

What differentiates actions, such as raising an arm, from mere happening and body movements, such as the rising of an arm? In this seminar, we will investigate the distinction between actions and happenings and why this distinction should matter to us. The questions that we will study fall under four general categories. The ontology of action, the explanation of action, the unity of agency, the natural history of agency.
Under the heading of ontology, we will investigate the following issues: the relation between events, bodily movements and actions; whether actions are distinct because of being caused in special ways (e.g., by the agent or by acts of will); the criteria of identity for actions; the determination of the inception, duration and termination of actions; the distinction between positive and negative actions (omissions); the relation between simple-basic actions and more complex ones, the effects of prosthetic devices on the location of the centers of control and agency.
The central question about the explanation of action is whether the distinctive teleological-interpretive mode of action explanation can be reduced to the causal-predictive mode of event explanation. In this context, we will consider the issue of the relation between reasons and causes.
Under the heading of the unity of agency, we will consider the relation between agency and the self, with particular attention to the questions raised by intentions and commitments. If time permits, we will consider the relation between individual and collective agency.
Finally, we will study the `natural history of agency', i.e., the differences between the kinds of agency that can be attributed to living organisms and various human artifacts.
Readings drawn, for the most part, from works of contemporary analytic philosophers.

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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING POLICY

 

Class participation and Short Presentations	25%
Final Paper (20-25 pages)	75%

• Attendance to the seminar is mandatory
  
• All late papers will be marked 1 grade down for each day or portion thereof that they are late, including weekends and holidays (for instance, if a paper is due on Tuesday at 2:05 p.m. and it is turned in on Wed at 5.00 p.m., it will be penalized two full grades). The penalty applies BOTH to the first and the final draft of each paper (e.g., if you turn both the first and the final draft one day late, your will be penalized 2 full grades).
  

• Grading Guideline for papers and exams

  • A-range: The paper/answer adequately states and defends an argument, and answers the counterexamples and counter arguments suggested by the lectures and the readings; it shows knowledge of the topic, is well structured and well written.
  • B-range: The paper/answer contains an argument, it shows a satisfactory knowledge of the subject, but it does not account for all the counter examples and counter arguments suggested by the readings and the lectures. The main claims are not adequately supported.
  • C-range: The paper/answer states an argument or thesis, but its supporting premises are missing, incorrect, or not sufficiently specific. It is not well structured and it is poorly written.
  • D-range: The paper/answer makes no serious attempt to frame an argument or defend a thesis. It simply describes the readings or lectures, and includes several errors. It fails to address the question posed, it lacks structure, and it is poorly written.
  • F : The paper/answer completely ignores the questions set, or it contains very serious errors in reasoning, and shows no knowledge of the subject. The essay violates the requirements of academic integrity.

Please note that PLAGIARISM is a serious instance of Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism includes:

1. Directly quoting the words of others without using quotation marks or indented format to identify them; or,
2. Using sources of information (published or unpublished) without identifying them; or,
3. Paraphrasing materials or ideas of others without identifying the sources.

UWM Policy concerning Plagiarism is available at http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/conduct.html 

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CLASS REFLECTOR: a class reflector (phil-act@uwm.edu) has been set up up for general announcements. N.B. If you do not use your ePanther/alpha account regularly, it is your responsibility to make sure that your UWM mail is forwarded to your preferred email account (for instructions on UWM ePanther accounts go to http://www.uwm.edu/IMT/ePanther/).

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Academic Misconduct Policy: see http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/OSL/DOS/conduct.html

Drop/Audit Policy: Students will be allowed to drop the course up through the last day permitted by the Registrar. Likewise, students may elect to audit the course up through the last day permitted by the Registrar

Grievance and Appeals Policy: The Department of Philosophy has procedures for handling student grievance and grade-appeals. Information is available in the Department office, 612 Curtin Hall

Special Assistance: If you need special assistance, please contact me the first day of class

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Last Revised 16 April 2002