Abstract
In her study Action, Purpose and Will: A Formal Theory 2 Ghita Holmström-Hintikka aims at outlining a theory that can serve as a framework for analyzing philosophical discussions of action and will. She claims that many earlier discussions have relied on too simple conceptual tools; consequently, her own approach uses a greater variety of different concepts and distinctions than are normally used. This new approach is called “axiomatic-deductive” and it consists of a formal language and a basic logic designed for the description of instrumental actions, purposive actions and goal-directed wills. She claims further that her approach helps the modern reader to understand some historical discussions, especially in Augustine and in medieval philosophy.3
This lecture was given at Boston University, Department of Philosophy in August, 1992.
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Saarinen, R. (2000). Augustine’s Two Wills and Two Goals: Some Applications of Holmström-Hintikka’s Formal Theory. In: HolmstrÖm-Hintikka, G. (eds) Medieval Philosophy and Modern Times. Synthese Library, vol 288. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4227-4_9
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