ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses some of Anscombe’s contributions to the philosophy of practical reason. It focuses particularly on Anscombe’s view of what it is to act for reasons. I begin by discussing the relationship between acting intentionally and acting for reasons in Anscombe’s theory of action. I then further explicate her view by discussing her rejection of two related views about acting for reasons: causalism (the view that reasons are a kind of cause of actions) and psychologism (the view that reasons are mental states like desires and beliefs). In the process, I try to show that Anscombe’s rejection of these theses does not leave us with mystery but rather sheds light on an interesting and serious heterodox view of acting for reasons. I conclude by suggesting that though Anscombe’s views have been taken sufficiently seriously by philosophers of action, they could be taken more seriously by philosophers of practical reason as an alternative to Davidsonian dogmas.