Conversations on Human Action and Practical Rationality

Conversations on Human Action and Practical Rationality. Carlos E. E. Mauro, S. Miguens and S. Cadilha (eds.), Newcastle, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2013, 169 pp. ISBN (10): 1-4438-4788-7, ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-4788-9.

This volume brings together leading scholars in the study of practical rationality and human action – namely, Alfred Mele, Michael Bratman, Hugh McCann, George Ainslie, Daniel Hausman and Joshua Knobe. They were interviewed by the editors in a project based at the Institute of Philosophy of the University of Porto structured around the questions: 1) In your view, what are the most central (or important) problems in the philosophy of action?; 2) For some or all of the following – action, agency, agent – what do they contrast with most significantly?; 3) Which of these are liable to be rational/irrational?; 4) In what sense is the thing to do to be decided by what is rational? Are there limits to rationality?; 5) What explains action, and how? What is the role of deliberation in action?; 6)How is akrasia possible (if you think it is)?; 7) How do you think your own work has contributed to the field? What are your plans for future research? The outcome is of great interest, not only for philosophers, but also for economists, psychologists, political scientists and sociologists.