The Philosophy Lexicon series is inspired by the success of the Aesthetics Lexicon edited by Remo Bodei, which now comprises twenty volumes, and the Political Lexicon edited by Carlo Galli, which has fourteen. The Philosophy Lexicon was developed and is edited by Massimo Mori, a renowned scholar of the history of philosophy at the University of Turin, editor-in-chief of Rivista di Filosofia, and author of several books and school texts. This new Lexicon has the same format as the preceding successful series: about twenty titles, each about 180 pages long and devoted to a specific concept or pair of concepts that have played a central role in the history of philosophy. The goal is also the same: offer non-specialist readers an essential encyclopedia of the key ideas which give life to philosophical thought, especially in its historical evolution.

Besides the title described here, the following are already published: Universals / Particulars by Guido Bonino and Reason by Emanuele Cafagna. In preparation: Good and Evil by Giuseppe Riconda, Probable / Necessary by Massimo Mugnai, Life / Death by Daniela Steila, Virtual by Enrico Pasini, Symbol by Massimo Ferrari.

This book offers an original treatment, that is both historical and theoretical, of the concept of action, one of the most debated in the entire history of philosophy. In addressing the radical changes that have accompanied thought about the nature, goals, and significance of action, from Plato to contemporary philosophy, the author devotes special attention to how the concept of action has been used in the metaphysical tradition, in ethics, in analytical philosophy, in the discussion of free will, and in political philosophy. The text deals with the concept of action in the work of great philosophers of the past, but also examines the contributions of important contemporary authors such as Carl Schmitt, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Hannah Arendt, Donald Davidson, John Rawls and Jrgen Habermas.

Mario De Caro teaches Moral Philosophy at the Third University of Rome. He has been Fulbright Fellow at Harvard. riginal treatment, that is both historicaMario De Caro teaches Moral Philosophy at the Third University of Rome. He has been Fulbright Fellow at Harvard.