Action, Emotion and Will - Softcover

'All of the topics covered in Action, Emotion and Will are still very much on the agenda: the book is now a locus classicus. Kenny's final chapter on pleasure is the best thing written on this terribly difficult topic.' - Peter Goldie, King's College London 'This is a clear and persuasive book which contains as many sharp points as a thorn bush and an array of arguments that is as neat and formidable as a surgeon's kit.' - Philosophical Quarterly 'An original and provocative book.' - Philosophy 'This is a valuable and penetrating study in the region of philosophical psychology most resistant to analysis... Among the merits of this book is that it ends on an excellent question.' - Philosophical Books 'Kenny constructs a variety of interesting and often ingenious distinctions and analyses... [a] stimulating book.' - Philosophical Review 'Full of suggestive material and it certainly has the power to stimulate.' - Mind

Action, Emotion and Will was first published in 1963, when it was one of the first books to provoke serious interest in the emotions and philosophy of human action. Almost forty years on, Anthony Kenny's account of action and emotion is still essential reading for anyone interested in these topics.
The first part of the book takes an historical look at the emotions in the work of Descartes, Locke and particularly Hume. In the second part, Kenny moves on to discuss some of the experimental work on the emotions by 20th Century psychologists like William James. Separate chapters cover feelings, motives, desire and pleasure. This edition features a brand new preface by the author.