Final answer:
An actional thought ties with intentionality and the commitment implicit in decisions, as opposed to mere intention which lacks deliberation. It also involves emotional influences as noted by Antonio Damasio and debates regarding free will versus Determinism.
Step-by-step explanation:
An actional thought is related to the notion of intentionality in actions and the considerations that encompass the idea of an action being good based on its intentions, planning, and results. Mere intention cannot be considered a decision because intention lacks the deliberative and committal elements crucial for a decision. This aligns with the philosophical concept that deliberation and the resulting action are part of the agent's experience of free will and moral assessment.
As per Taylor's explanation, deliberation requires an agent to consider one's own future actions and is contingent upon the belief that the decision is 'up to the agent,' contrasting Determinism's claim that all events, including human actions, are determined by antecedent causes. While consequentialism emphasizes the importance of the consequences of an action in determining its moral value, it also implies a decision-making process that is more than mere intention.
According to Antonio Damasio, emotion plays a significant role in rational thought, contradicting the traditional view that rationality is separate from emotion. The confluence of emotion and reasoning suggests that actional thoughts and decisions are not purely rational calculations but are influenced by how we feel about the outcomes and their ethical implications.