Philosophy in Engineering Systems of Action: Analysis and Interpretation of the Selected Ontological Aspects of Józef Konieczny’s Theory of Action

Abstract Designing and examining systems of action plays an important role in modern engineering. Such a general approach to actions is also supportive to the discussions on the development of artificial intelligence agents. As a philosophically remarkable and practically useful approach to actions the theory of action proposed by the Polish philosopher, scientist and military specialist Józef Konieczny undergoes here further considerations. The Konieczny’s concepts have not been intensively thoroughly researched and further developed, and a deep philosophical analysis is the condition for their efficient application when solving real-life problems. This paper presents own interpretations of Konieczny’s views on action, including own clarifications or additions to the original solutions. The main aim is to identify the essential elements of the theory of action and analyse it in the ontological context. The selected structures of action were characterised, the analysis of the fundamental concepts was conducted, the ontological characterization of the types of actions and the objects involved in action was developed, and the certain issues of realism and functionalism identified were discussed. The results obtained constitute an important testimony to the practice of philosophy in technology and are useful when aiming at further development of the approach analysed.