Action always involves attention. (19th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Wayne
• Is Part Of: Analysis. Volume 79:Number 4(2019:Oct.)
• Page Start: 693
• Page End: 703
• Publication Date: 2018-12-19
• Subjects: attention -- action -- intention -- control -- automaticity; Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1093/analys/any080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-2638

Abstract

Abstract: Jennings and Nanay (this journal, 2016) argue against my claim that action entails attention by providing putative counterexamples to the claim that action entails a Many–Many Problem. This reply demonstrates that they have misunderstood the central notion of a pure reflex on which my argument depends. A simplified form of the argument from pure reflex to the Many–Many Problem as a necessary feature of agency is given, and putative counterexamples of action without attention are addressed. Attention is present in every action. In passing, the reply discusses how we should assess intuitive claims about attention and mental processing, with emphasis on learning and the automatization of attention in its development as a skill.