Actions and Other Events

Beschreibung

How many things did the gunman do? Is his pulling of the trigger the same as his killing of the victim? Or are these two different actions or events? Such questions are at the heart of the dispute between «unifiers» and «multipliers» over the individuation of actions and events. In this study Karl Pfeifer defends the unifying approach of G.E.M. Anscombe and Donald Davidson against the criticisms and rival views of Alvin I. Goldman and others. Along the way, the discussion touches on a variety of problems concerning causality, time, explanation, language, ontology, and identity. What finally emerges is a clearer picture of the nature of criteria of identity and individuation for actions and events than has been available to date.

Autor*in

Karl Pfeifer

Themen in »Actions and Other Events«

Actions Controversy Events Multiplier Other Unifier

Stimmen zu »Actions and Other Events«

«øPfeifer! writes in a limpid uncluttered style, pays scrupulous attention to the leading contenders in the field, and remains ever alert to how arguments for positions he opposes might be further developed or strengthened. Altogether he has carried the debate with vigour and insight well beyond the point at which he entered.» (Kenneth Rankin, Canadian Philosophical Review)

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