Abstract: Offers an analysis of a paradigmatic species of motivational attitude, one that essentially encompasses motivation to act, as action–desires and intentions do. It is argued that attitudes of this kind have, essentially, a functional connection to intentional action that beliefs lack. A subsidiary thesis is that so-called “negative actions” do not undermine the analysis offered because, in fact, they divide into non-actions and positive actions misdiagnosed as negative ones. The main support for the idea that there are truly negative actions – namely, that sometimes it is intentional on a person's part, and for a reason, that he does not do something – is explained away.

Keywords: action–desire, belief, intentional action, negative action, intention, motivational attitude, negative action, reasons,