Final answer:
In philosophy of action, intention is the plan or purpose behind an action, involving foresight and deliberate planning, while volition is the exercise of will that marks the decision to act. Kant highlights the importance of intentions in moral considerations through his categorical imperative.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the philosophy of action, the difference between intention and volition is significant. Intention refers to the purpose or plan behind an action. It involves foresight and deliberate planning regarding the action one seeks to perform. In contrast, volition is the act of willing or choosing; it relates to the moment of decision and the exercise of will that leads to action. Volition speaks to the psychological state in which an individual commits to a particular course of action.
It is possible to intend to do something without immediate action, such as planning to go to school in the following year. On the other hand, volition is immediate and precedes an action, signaling the transition from deliberation to the actual initiation of movement or a response.
Philosophical discussions such as those by Immanuel Kant focus on the importance of intention in determining the morality of an action. In contrast, discussions on free will and determinism often revolve around volition and whether it is truly free or predetermined.
Kant's view on intention is encapsulated in his concept of the categorical imperative, which suggests that actions are moral if they can be willed to become a universal law. Thus, the intentionality behind an action significantly influences its moral status.