Issue 4 Vol. 39 1997

Understanding explanation. Limits and problems of nomological explanations of actions.

GREVE, W.

It is investigated whether human action can be explained within a deductive-nomological model of explanation using intentions, goals and expectancies as explanans. Firstly, the concept of action is discussed and defined. In a second step it is investigated whether the connection between actions and intentions is an empirical, contingent or an analytical, conceptual one. The thesis that there is a logical connection between action and intention implies that there can be no causal link between both. However, two further questions remain open, which must be answered empirically: (1) the explanation of the observable behavior by means of the intention, and (2) the explanation of the intention itself. Theoretical difficulties inherent to this question, however, do not exclude an empirical research programm with respect to these questions.

Keywords: action, intention, nomological explanation

Short Title: Greve, W. (1997) PsyBeit 4:482

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