An Introduction to Collective Intentionality: In Action, Thought, and Society makes a cogent case for the field‘s importance, presents its central questions, and introduces the main topics of study. Authors Kirk Ludwig and Marija Jankovic masterfully demonstrate why understanding collective intentions is essential for comprehending social dynamics, from everyday cooperation to complex institutional structures.

Through clear, accessible prose, readers journey through the central questions that define the discipline: How do groups form shared goals? What distinguishes collective action from parallel individual behaviors? How do social institutions emerge from collective mental states? While presenting their nuanced “individualist position,” the authors provide a balanced exploration of competing perspectives, ensuring readers gain a comprehensive understanding of ongoing debates and future research directions. Each theoretical concept is grounded in relatable examples that illuminate the practical implications of collective intentionality in our daily lives.

Chapter summaries reinforce key concepts, while carefully curated further reading lists promote further exploration of collective intentionality. This book is perfect for students and scholars in philosophy, sociology, psychology, and anyone fascinated by the foundations of social reality.

Author Biography

Marija Jankovic is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Davidson College. Her areas of research are collective intentionality and philosophy of language. She is co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Collective Intentionality, alongside Kirk Ludwig (Routledge 2018).

Kirk Ludwig is Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. He works in philosophy of mind and action, epistemology, philosophy of language, and metaphysics. His most recent books are Plural to Institutional Agency (2017) and The Routledge Handbook of Collective Intentionality, co-edited with Marija Jankovic (Routledge 2018).

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