Humanities

AUTONOMY AS PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING

R. Hadisi

Research conducted by Reza Hadisi (University of Toronto) proposes a theory of autonomous agency rooted in a strongly cognitivist theory of intention: intentional action and autonomy are conceived as graded phenomena explained by degrees of practical knowledge and practical understanding, synthesizing hierarchical and cognitivist approaches while addressing objections to cognitivism and incorporating aspects of reason-responsiveness.... show more

Abstract

I offer a theory of autonomous agency that relies on the resources of a strongly cognitivist theory of intention and intentional action. On the proposed account, intentional action is a graded notion that is explained via the agent’s degree of practical knowledge. In turn, autonomous agency is also a graded notion that is explained via the agent’s degree of practical understanding. The resulting theory can synthesize insights from both the hierarchical and the cognitivist theories of autonomy with at least some aspects of the reason-responsiveness theories. Moreover, by treating practical knowledge and practical understanding as gradable notions, the paper offers a strategy to respond to enduring objections against cognitivism about intention, control, and autonomy.

Publisher

Ergo

Published On

Authors

Reza Hadisi

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3998/ergo.6788