Skip to main content

On Ability, Opportunity and Competence: An Inquiry Into People’s Possibility for Action

  • Chapter
Contemporary Action Theory Volume 1: Individual Action

Part of the book series: Synthese Library ((SYLI,volume 266))

Abstract

What does it mean to say that a man is able to perform an action? Is it true, as the standard philosophical analysis of ability indicates, that this man is in a state which is such that he would perform the action if he were to try? Is the counterfactual conditional the proper form for the analysis of the notion of ability?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Danto, A. (1965), “Basic Actions,” American Philosophical Quarterly 2, 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, A.I. (1970), A Theory of Human Action. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice Hall Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, A. (1975), Will, Freedom and Power. Oxford, Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morriss, P. (1987), Power: A Philosophical Analysis. New York, St. Martin’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordenfeit, L. (1974), Explanation of Human Actions. Philosophical Studies Published by the Department of Philosophy and the Philosophical Society, 20, Uppsala, University of Uppsala.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordenfelt, L. (1995), On the Nature of Health. Second, revised, edition, Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, M. (1990), The Politics of Disablement. London, Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryle, G. (1946), “Knowing how and knowing that,” Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, xlvi, 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nordenfelt, L. (1997). On Ability, Opportunity and Competence: An Inquiry Into People’s Possibility for Action. In: Holmström-Hintikka, G., Tuomela, R. (eds) Contemporary Action Theory Volume 1: Individual Action. Synthese Library, vol 266. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0439-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0439-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4914-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0439-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics