Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that If agent causation is the correct account, then belief-desire causation is not even necessary for action, since the agent can initiate action without being caused to do so by prior mental events.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Without belief-desire causation, agent causation becomes inexplicable: why did the agent act one way rather than another?
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Agents themselves are constituted by their mental states; divorcing agency from beliefs/desires makes 'agent causation' vacuous.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.If agents can act without any prior mental cause, their actions become arbitrary and unpredictable, undermining rational agency itself.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Agent causation posits agents as irreducible causal powers that can initiate causal chains without being determined by prior events.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If agents possess genuine causal powers, then actions need not be fully explained by antecedent mental states like beliefs and desires.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Belief-desire explanations describe motivations, not necessitating conditions; agent causation provides the actual causal mechanism.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.