Rationality and the unit of action

Woodard, Christopher

Abstract

This paper examines the idea of an extended unit of action, which is the idea that the
reasons for or against an individual action can depend on the qualities of a larger pattern of action
of which it is a part. One concept of joint action is that the unit of action can be extended in this
sense. But the idea of an extended unit of action is surprisingly minimal in its commitments. The
paper argues for this conclusion by examining uses of the idea of an extended unit of action in
four theoretical contexts. It also explains why the idea of an extended unit of action need not
involve magical thinking, and discusses possible replies to an objection based on a worry about
recklessness.

Citation

Woodard, C. (2011). Rationality and the unit of action. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 2(2), https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-011-0058-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2011
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 11, 2011
• Journal: Review of Philosophy and Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1878-5158
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-5166
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-011-0058-z
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1011501
• Publisher URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/dlp300l01664000n/
• Additional Information: The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com