Introduction to Philosophy
Notes
This is not a substitute for coming to class
Richard Lee
Philosophy
2003 C 001
Copyright © 1999,
Richard Lee
Spring 1999
Taylor's Agency Theory
A person causes her/his free actions.
Free actions are not causally determined (by antecedent events).
But free actions are caused (or "initiated," "originated," or "performed") by agents. (P 363a)
When a person does something for a reason, the reason does not cause the action.
Not every chain of causes and effects is infinite. (P 363a)
Richard Lee
,
rlee@comp.uark.edu
, last modified: 20 April 1999