[Doing Things for Reasons] What exactly are the reasons for our actions, and how are they related to the results of these actions? The conventional doctrine is that these reasons are mental states of the actant, such as volition or opinion, but here a new thesis is developed; according to Bittner, our actions are motivated by states or events in the world. This answer, worked out and defended in detail, leads ultimately to a radical new conception of ourselves as actants.

Rüdiger Bittner ist Professor für Philosophie an der Universität Bielefeld.