Preface

Introduction

I. Explanation

• 1. Explanation and Law
  • 1.1. Explanation and causality
  • 1.2. The covering law theory of explanation
  • 1.3. Early criticism of the covering law theory
  • 1.4. Problems of the covering law theory: Explanation and justification
  • 1.5. Further problems of the theory: Logic and explanation
  • 1.6. Further problems of the theory: Law and relevance
  • 1.7. Statistical and causal relevance
  • 1.8. Conclusion
• 2. Explanation and Causation
  • 2.1. Event and explanandum
  • 2.2. Cause and explanation
  • 2.3. Claims and explanations
  • 2.4. Explanation and understanding
  • 2.5. Explanation and science – Part I
  • 2.6. Explanation and science – Part II
  • 2.7. Conclusion

II. Action

• 3. Action and Causation
  • 3.1. Actions, desires and beliefs
  • 3.2. Beliefs, desires and causes
  • 3.3. Actions and laws
  • 3.4. Attitudes and dispositions
  • 3.5. Reasons and causes
  • 3.6. Causality and logic
  • 3.7. Actions and descriptions
  • 3.8. Actions and events
  • 3.9. Psychology and physiology
  • 3.10. Conclusion
• 4. Action and Explanation
  • 4.1. Is there a standard form of explaining action?
  • 4.2. The multitude of explanations
  • 4.3. The multitude of causes
  • 4.4. Is there an ideal form of explaining action?
  • 4.5. Intention and intentionality
  • 4.6. Intentional versus situational explanations
  • 4.7. Theory and practice
  • 4.8. Conclusion

III. Reasons

• 5. Reasons and Reason
  • 5.1. Mentalism versus realism
  • 5.2. Intramental causality
  • 5.3. The premises of reason
  • 5.4. Wind and sails
  • 5.5. Doing what is reasonable
  • 5.6. In the eyes of the agent
  • 5.7. Two kinds of reasons?
  • 5.8. Conclusion
• 6. Reasons Without Reason
  • 6.1. Why reasons?
  • 6.2. Consequentialism
  • 6.3. A tiny theory of rationality
  • 6.4. Too much and too little
  • 6.5. Challenges and responses
  • 6.6. Having reasons, seeing reasons
  • 6.7. Objective versus subjective rationality
  • 6.8. Metaphor and truth
  • 6.9. Conclusion

IV. Acting

• 7. Acting Without Reasons
  • 7.1. What are actions?
  • 7.2. The two answers of the mentalist
  • 7.3. Acting without belief
  • 7.4. Acting without desire
  • 7.5. Acting without desire and belief
  • 7.6. For a reason
  • 7.7. For fun, out of boredom and out of habit
  • 7.8. Conclusion
• 8. Acting
  • 8.1. Asking the right question
  • 8.2. The wrong question
  • 8.3. The paradox of the half-hearted naturalist
  • 8.4. The right question

Bibliography

Index