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The Logic of Action and Control.

Authors :
Mollica, Leona
Source :
Journal of Philosophical Logic; Oct2023, Vol. 52 Issue 5, p1237-1268, 32p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

In this paper I propose and motivate a logic of the interdefined concepts of making true and control, understood as intensional propositional operators to be indexed to an agent. While bearing a resemblance to earlier logics in the tradition, the motivations, semantics, and object language theory differ on crucial points. Applying this logic to widespread formal theories of agency, I use it as a framework to argue against the ubiquitous assumption that the strongest actions or options available to a given agent must always be pairwise incompatible. The conclusion is that this assumption conflicts with failures of higher order control of agents over their degree or precision of control, failures exhibited by such imperfect agents as ourselves. I discuss models in this setting for understanding such imperfectly self-controlling agents. In an appendix, I prove several relevant results about the logic described, including soundness and completeness both for it and for certain natural extensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00223611
Volume :
52
Issue :
5
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of Philosophical Logic
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
172807115
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10992-023-09704-9