Action Theory Quotes

Economics is not about goods and services; it is about human choice and action.

As soon as questions of will or decision or reason or choice of action arise, human science is at a loss.

Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action.

Social action, just like physical action, is steered by perception.

Let us distinguish between acting intentionally and acting deliberately or on purpose, as far as this can be done by attending to what language can teach us.

Active creation is conceived as a transitive action in which there is always presupposed an object about which the agent is concerned; it is virtually but not formally transitive because it makes, not presupposes, an object.

But though cognition is not an element of mental action, nor even in any real sense of the word an aspect of it, the distinction of cognition and conation has if properly defined a definite value.

Sociology should... be thought of as a science of action-of the ultimate common value element in its relations to the other elements of action.

In order to institute action, it is not sufficient that the individual man have unachieved ends that he would like to fulfill. He must also expect that certain modes of behavior will enable him to attain his ends. A man may have a desire for sunshine, but if he realizes that he can do nothing to achieve it, he does not act on this desire.