124 Pages
4 B/W Illustrations
by
Routledge
124 Pages
4 B/W Illustrations
by
Routledge
124 Pages
4 B/W Illustrations
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
Philosophers have traditionally assumed that the difference between active and passive movement could be explained by the presence or absence of an intention in the mind of the agent. This assumption has led to the neglect of many interesting active behaviors that do not depend on intentions, including the "mindless" actions of humans and the activities of non-human animals. In this book Jones... Read more
Introduction
1. On the Need for a Theory of Primitive Action
2. Guidance and Deviance
3. Whole-Organism Agency
4. Guideless Guidance
5. From Eddies of Order to Wellsprings of Value
6. From Autopoiesis to Agency
7. Conclusion: Beyond Primitive Agency
Biography
Derek M. Jones is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of Cognitive Science at the University of Evansville, USA.
Recent decades have seen a rise of theories of human agency that acknowledge its biological roots. This development encompasses both the philosophy of biology and ‘classical’ analytic philosophy of mind and action—so far, however, in the form of two largely separate debates. Jones’ monograph on The Biological Foundations of Action is a most welcome contribution, as it engages with both of these debates.
Anne Sophie Meincke, University of Exeter, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
