Abstract
What is the difference between an intended consequence and a foreseen unavoidable consequence? The answer, I argue, turns on the exercise of knowhow knowledge in the process that led to the consequence. I argue for this using a theory according to which acting intentionally is acting as a reason. I show how this gives us a more promising explanation of the difference than the dominant explanations, according to which acting intentionally is acting for a reason.
Highlights
A bomb has fallen and destroyed a munitions factory, killing twenty innocent civilians
But with good reason in her mind, she valued the destruction of the factory on exact par with the death of the innocent civilians
We know that the bomber wanted to end the war, and we know that she knew that destroying the factory would be an effective way to end the war because it would be an effective way to significantly disable the enemy and force them to give up
Summary
According to a popular non-cognitivist theory of intention, an intention to bring about a consequence is a sui generis, conative mental state without any cognitive commitment to whether one will bring about that consequence (Mele 1992; Bratman 1999). On the cognitivist view, it looks like, in both cases, the bomber did not just intend to bring about the bombing and to bring about the destruction of the factory and the death of innocent civilians. She seems committed to following through with bringing about the death of innocent civilians as much as she’s committed to following through with bringing about the destruction of the factory Even on this non-cognitivist view, it looks like, in both cases, the bomber did not just intend to bring about the bombing and to bring about the destruction of the factory and the death of innocent civilians. I will argue against trying to save these views by arguing for the promise of an explanation that rejects them both
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
