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person1970s-2016

Raimo Tuomela

Disciplines:
philosophy of action
philosophy/social philosophy
philosophy of mind/collective intentionality

Summary

Finnish philosopher who developed the we-mode theory of collective intentionality — a systematic account of how individuals can think and act as group members versus as private persons.

Core Contribution

We-mode versus I-mode: group members acting in we-mode subordinate their individual perspective to the group's — they think 'we intend' rather than 'I intend.' The Social Ontology: groups can have genuine collective attitudes irreducible to individual attitudes. A systematic alternative to Margaret Gilbert's joint commitment approach.

Key Spikes & Highlights

  • The we-mode/I-mode distinction is practically significant: a soldier acting in we-mode follows orders even if individually she would refuse — the group's intention overrides individual judgment, raising questions about group-based moral responsibility.

Notable Works & Achievements

The Importance of Us

The Philosophy of Sociality

Social Ontology

Historical Influences

Michael Bratman Georg Henrik von Wright

Intellectual Lineage

Analytic Social Philosophy

Contemporaries & Peers

Margaret Gilbert John Searle

Minds Influenced

Social Ontology Research

Intellectual Posterity

We-Mode TheoryCollective Intentionality

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Raimo Tuomela

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