“Is an Agent Simply a Being that Acts?”

Abstract According to the Straight View, an agent is simply a being that acts. I argue that with a minor modification the Straight View is correct for the most basic forms of agency and action. But the Straight View can be challenged for more complex forms of agency, such as morally responsible agency. A person might perform a praiseworthy or blameworthy act and yet not be a morally responsible agent. So too for other forms of sophisticated agency, like autonomous agency.