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Chapter 2 - Skill in Action

from Part I - Foundations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2026

Carlotta Pavese
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

Chapter 2 SKILLS in ACTION argues that skills are keys to understanding crucial notions in action theory, such as intentional action. The idea that intentional actions are constitutively the employment of skills is an attractive thought, and yet, the view has fallen in disrepute. This chapter resuscitates it: I argue that no other capacity—from instincts to habits or talents, to innate general-purpose faculties—can figure as centrally in action theory.

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  • Skill in Action
  • Carlotta Pavese, University of Oxford
  • Book: The Practical Mind
  • Online publication: 23 March 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009336895.003
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  • Skill in Action
  • Carlotta Pavese, University of Oxford
  • Book: The Practical Mind
  • Online publication: 23 March 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009336895.003
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Skill in Action
  • Carlotta Pavese, University of Oxford
  • Book: The Practical Mind
  • Online publication: 23 March 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009336895.003
Available formats
×