b. 1945
Michael Bratman is an American analytic philosopher at Stanford University, best known for developing the planning theory of intention and agency. His influential 1987 work 'Intention, Plans, and Practical Reason' argues that intentions are not merely strong desires but are plan-states that structure practical reasoning over time. His work bridges philosophy of action, metaphysics, and ethics, with significant contributions to debates on free will, autonomy, and shared agency.
Developed the planning theory of intention, arguing intentions are plan-states distinct from desires or beliefs
Authored 'Intention, Plans, and Practical Reason' (1987), a landmark text in philosophy of action
Extended planning theory to shared/collective intentionality and cooperative activity
Developed a planning-based account of self-governance and autonomy relevant to free will debates
Argued that disputes about free will necessarily implicate both metaphysical and ethical commitments