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Action Theory as a Resource for Decision Theory

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Action, Decision, and Intention
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Abstract

Many problems in decision theory intersect problems in action theory. But although this is widely realized, the connections between the two fields have rarely been systematically discussed in the literature. This essay will attempt to articulate some of those connections and a number of important problems they raise. The general topic is large, and I shall have to work with simple decision-theoretic models and to restrict my attention chiefly to normative decision theory as applied to individual decision. Some implications for group decision theory, and for empirical issues concerning decision, should be apparent; but my main focus will be on individual cases, particularly in relation to standards of rationality.

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© 1986 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Audi, R. (1986). Action Theory as a Resource for Decision Theory. In: Audi, R. (eds) Action, Decision, and Intention. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4696-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4696-5_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8588-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4696-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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