PHILOSOPHY OF ACTION: REASONS FOR ACTION

The notion of reason is crucial to the distinction between actions and mere happenings. The questions that we can ask about mere happenings are only of the 'how?' kind—"how did this event come about?" For act ions, however, we can always ask a differe nt and distinctive why-question, "Why did the agent do so-and-so?" The latter is a request for the reason that led the agent to act as she did. It could be claimed (with good reasons...) that actions are the sort of events for which explanation in terms o f reasons, rather than just causes, is in order. Mere physical occurrences are not to be interpreted, comprehended, justified or criticized, but actions are. Interpretation, understanding, justification and crit icism are directed primarily at actions and make sense only because one takes that there are reasons for these actions.

In this seminar we will explore the nature of the relation between agency and reason. Among the questions that we will investi gate are: what is it for an agent to have a reason and be guided by it? Is guidance by reason distinctive only of intentional c onduct by adult human beings, or it is also present in the agency of either other animals or children? Are reasons objective ma tters of fact or rather psychological attitudes of the agent (such as her beliefs and desires)? How does the answer to the latte r question bear on the distinction between objective and subjective reasons? Are reasons for action primarily (if not exclusiv ely) of the instrumental kind (i.e., reasons how to best achieve a given end, rather than reasons for the selections of ends)? Ho w does the answer to the latter question affect our understanding of the guiding force of reasons on our conduct? Is there a distinction between reasons for action and rational or normative requirements? Finally, if time permits, we might briefly consider how different rational considerations might come together to give the reason for a particular action, i.e., the all-things-c onsidered reason for it.

The seminar is not specifically focused on moral agency, but on agency in its broadest sense. It should thus be of interest for anyone who is concerned with the relations between agency, reason, and normativity as they ar e currently discussed in a varie ty of fields (such as philosophy of mind, moral philosophy and epistemology). Readings will be drawn from recent books and papers in the analytical tradition.

If you are trying to access the readings from on off-campus computer, you might have to go through this page first   http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/ris/ezproxy.html

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ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING POLICY

• Attendance to lectures and writing workshops is mandatory
  
• PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS BY THE DEADLINES indicated above. All late papers will be marked 1 grade down for each day or portion thereof th at they are late, including weekends and holidays (for instance, if a paper is due on Tuesday at 2:00 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 pa per (e.g., if you turn both the first and the final draft one day late, your will be penalized 2 full grades).
  
• In order to pass this course you MUST COMPLETE ALL assignments. You must take the in-class tests, participate in the writing workshops, and turn in both papers.
   

click here to see the GRADING GUIDELINES

Please note that P LAGIARISM 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 informati on (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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WRITING WORKSHOP

In this class, you are given the opportunity to benefit from the comments of your peers on the first draft of your papers. You must submit the first draft of the paper together with a detailed outline on the first day of the writing workshop. Two or three other students will be assigned to you as commentators. You will meet with them at the writing workshop and discuss with them how to improve your draft. You then have some more days to revise your draft before submitting the final version for grading (for the exact deadlines, see the schedule above). You will also be commenting on the work of two or three other students. You will receive their drafts on the day when your draft is due. You will turn in your written comments at the writing workshop.

Please note that the active participation in the writing workshop is REQUIRED in order to pass the class. Detailed instructions about the writing workshop will be distributed during the term and made available on my homepage at http://www.uwm.edu/~ferrero/writ ing-workshop.htm

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CLASS REFLECTOR: a class reflector ( ) has been set up up for general announcements. Notice that, 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 eP anther 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. Likewi se, 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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