Actions, Reason Explanations, and Values

Abstract

According to the orthodox causalist view, intentional action is a behavior which is caused in the right way by the reasons for which the agent acted and it is explained in terms of their causally effective reasons. Thus, reasons are considered to be causes, and common-sense action explanation in terms of reasons counts as a species of causal explanation. This paper will challenge the orthodox view with an array of objections that together support a teleological account interpreted as a value-based account. Actions realize values and unveil them. A reason explanation of a rational agent’s goal-directed behavior invokes the value toward which the conduct was directed.