A primary concern of the theory of action in philosophy is to demarcate actions from other doings. For instance, if you are startled and accidentally drop a plate, causing it to shatter, it is clear that breaking the plate was something you did. But can it be seen as an action you undertook?

There is a special field in analytical philosophy called philosophy of action. Some of the most prominent philosophers who worked in it are Elizabeth Anscombe and Donald Davidson.