 a person who acts freely and knowingly and who is accountable for his/her actions  human beings possess a power to do things that sets us apart from animals  we can be spontaneous and creative  we can intervene in and give new direction to a course of events  we have the capacity to ACT and MAKE CHOICES

 everything with meaning can be reduced to sensory experience  developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein ( )  actions give us our identity (constructed by what we think, say and do)  when we exercise our power to freely act, we can change the course of events  the focus on action theory is not on what is done, but on who it is done by  for every action there is an agent, someone who can change or initiate things

 understand action indirectly in order to understand human action  devised by Paul Ricoeur (1913-) in order to understand human action  we can use the following questions to analyze and evaluate human action:

 The agent- Since we all have free choice, each of us is responsible for what we do, as well as for what we intend to do.  you are an agent when you intend an action in the present that will change your future (For example, going to university next year or planning to steal a car)  by intending to do certain things, you begin to shape yourself by the promises, commitments and plans that you make today to see your plan through

 The action- Ethics is also about the action itself- what the agent does.  The agent can make things happen through thought, word and deed  (For example, shoplifting, gossiping or showing appreciation all make you the person you are)  Ethics focuses on intentional actions- these are moral actions because they are freely and knowingly chosen  Your actions shape who you are

 The motive- We all have reasons or motives for what we intend to do (our actions).  The reasons for doing something are endless- they always appear as a good – even if they are only good for you (For example, I got my essay from the internet because I needed an A grade)  Whenever you give a motive, you justify your action, you appeal to a value that makes the action right (if only in your eyes)  You practice ethics when you begin to reflect on the values that guides your decisions and intentions (you decide whether it is right or wrong)

 With what means- Whichever way you choose to deal with an action, says something about you.  (For example, if you speak up for a person you don’t really like, you become a better person; or if you are stingy in your actions towards others, you will become stingy as a person)  Is harm done so that good could be accomplished? Was something or someone hurt either directly or indirectly due to the action? Were the means (method) used to achieve the end (goal) controversial or underhanded? * The end does not justify the means*  whatever means you choose to carry out an action should not be something bad, even if the end goal is something good (For example, stealing something to help out a person in need)

 The situation or events surrounding the action always affects the decisions and choices made as well as the responsibility involved.  Circumstances may reduce or increase your responsibility for an action.  (For example if you are threatened with violence, or in extreme hunger, or under extreme pressure, these all affect the level of your intention and motive)  every action either aggravates (makes worse) or mitigates (make less severe) a situation depending on the circumstances

 Every action is also an interaction – you act with others, for others, against others. How you act in each case will affect you differently.  (For example, including others in your plans or being attentive to those who need your help affects you positively, but making fun of someone or cheating on exams, affects you negatively)

 The outcome of your action (consequences) clearly affects the self for good or bad.  (For example, if you kill the passenger in your car while driving drunk, you are responsible even thought you never intended to kill that person)

Using the above conceptual framework of action allow us to understand action indirectly. The meaning of an actions shifts depending on the answers to the questions / problems. And action is good only when it fulfills certain conditions. An action is not good of itself. The morality of human acts depends on:  the object chosen  the intention or end  the circumstances