A short thought. But since I haven’t been writing much lately (I, like most people I know, have been politically depressed in the past month or so), I thought I’d start small.
Years ago I read Anscombe’s Intention in a reading group. I have no background in anything remotely related to philosophy of action, so my engagement with it was (is) probably fairly superficial. So bear with me & correct me if I’m wrong.
Obviously, one can intend to do something without actually accomplish it, and one has a certain degree of privileged access to one’s own intentions. But that doesn’t mean a person has complete authority over their intentions. If I declare “I intend to organize a workshop” but do not take any steps into actually doing it, then after long enough time it seems that someone else can legitimately say to me “no, you do not actually intend that” (I believe this was an example Holly gave).
Intentions are not solely behavioural or predictive, but they must have behavioural and predictive elements. Anscombe writes (p.51-52)
What can opening the window be except making such-and-such movements with such-and-such a result? And in that case what can knowing one is opening the window be except knowing that that is taking place?…
…the only sense I can give to ‘willing’ is that in which I might stare at something and will it to move.
Intentions are not sensations or thoughts. They can’t merely exist in the head.
This matters because to intend to do something feels like an accomplishment, and when the problem is hard enough, it feels like having an intention to do it is good enough. If I intend to drink some water but do not accomplish it, that sounds like a bigger failing than if I intend to contribute to world peace but do not accomplish it.
And, surely, if I can intend to go for a walk without actually going for one, I can intend to make our community more inclusive without actually doing anything, right? It is in this sense that I believe intentions don’t matter. If I intend to go for a walk to exercise myself, then failing to do it means I have not exercised myself. It is the same as if I didn’t intend to go for a walk. If we intend to “be better allies” so that our community can be more welcoming, then failing to do anything means that the community is not more welcoming. It is the same as if we didn’t intend to care.
I recently finished a book my friend Sarita recommended, called Politics is for Power. It discusses the phenomenon that many political enthusiasts today spend significant time reading about politics, debating friends and family members or even online randos, but would not lift a finger for real change. The author calls these people “political hobbyists” because they engage with politics the way sports fans engage with sports. It’s a sobering read, though you may come out of it thinking of yourself as a terrible person like I did.
The fact is simply that thoughts are easier than actions, but thoughts feel more vivid. Academics should know this already: having a paper idea is miles away from having a paper, and having a paper idea counts for very little. It’s the same when we talk about climate or inclusivity or justice. It’s not so much that actions speak louder than words. It’s just that words don’t matter.
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