Acts and Other Events (Contemporary Philosophy Series)

The purpose of this brilliant book is to answer the philosophical question, "What is the nature of human acts?" It represents an example of sustained philosophical thinking on a topic of great importance in philosophy of action and in metaphysics, linguistics, and law. Of special interest is the author's analysis--in terms of causality--of the part-whole relation among events. By use of that relation she gives accounts of the parts of acts of a number of centrally important kinds, and analyses of agency, 'method,' and intentionality. Theory of action has been, and continues to be, the focus of intense debate. Professor Thomson's searching and thorough investigation of the ontology of action merits a close reading by professional philosophers and serious students of philosophy generally.