--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the agent aims to make the attempt if…" description: "\"If the agent aims to make the attempt if and only if it would be apt, then a distinctive element of risk assessment becomes relevant: How probably woul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/ernest-sosa-12656_agents_if-the-agent-aims-to-make-the-attempt-if_1349696.jpg" --- # If the agent aims to make the attempt if and only if it… ![“If the agent aims to make the attempt if and only if it would be apt, then a distinctive element of risk assessment becomes relevant: How probably would the agent succeed in attempting that fuller end?” quote by Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/ernest-sosa-12656_agents_if-the-agent-aims-to-make-the-attempt-if_1349696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/ernest-sosa-12656_agents_if-the-agent-aims-to-make-the-attempt-if_1349696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/ernest-sosa-12656_agents_if-the-agent-aims-to-make-the-attempt-if_1349696.jpg) > “If the agent aims to make the attempt if and only if it would be apt, then a distinctive element of risk assessment becomes relevant: How probably would the agent succeed in attempting that fuller end?” [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An agent should attempt only when success is likely; evaluating probability of success is key **In simple terms:** Attempt only when success is probable Key Takeaway Assess success likelihood before acting Themes philosophy decisionmaking risk assessment Mood analytical thought‑provoking Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business investments - medical treatments - strategic planning Key Concepts probabilistic reasoning agency theory Questions to Reflect On - When is a low‑probability but high‑impact action justified? - How do you balance risk with ethical considerations? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on probability can ignore moral or contextual factors ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agent Aims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agent-aims-4585914/) [Agent Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agent-succeed-4585915/) [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Assessment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assessment/) [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Distinctive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinctive/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ifs and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs-and/) [Probably Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-agent-4585917/) [Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Succeed Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed-attempting-4585916/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Probably your first agent is going to be some guy who also handles dog acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/probably-your-first-agent-is-going-to-be-some-guy-who-also-handles/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [Attempts are found in domains of human performance, such as sports, games, artistic domains, professional domains like medicine and the law, and so on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/attempts-are-found-in-domains-of-human-performance-such-as-sports/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [I am perfectly happy to compromise and work with anybody. 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(A third question, "What now?", is one the author asks himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/two-questions-form-the-foundation-of-all-novels-what-if-and-what-next/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [You are rich if and only if money you refuse tastes better than money you accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/you-are-rich-if-and-only-if-money-you-refuse-tastes-better-than-money/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [If and when I decide to retire I want to perform. I want to be on the ice. I want to continue contributing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-abbott/if-and-when-i-decide-to-retire-i-want-to-perform-i-want-to-be-on-the/) [Jeremy Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-abbott/) > ["Compromise" means giving up more than the other side is big enough to take; if and when they have the muscle, they'll be back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-knox/compromise-means-giving-up-more-than-the-other-side-is-big-enough-to/) [Neal Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-knox/) > [My philosophy is never start talking about 'if,' 'and,' 'but' or the past, because 90 percent of what follows will be negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/my-philosophy-is-never-start-talking-about-if-and-but-or-the-past/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [There's no ifs and buts or maybes, you're gonna miss, you're gonna miss my loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-rawls/there-s-no-ifs-and-buts-or-maybes-you-re-gonna-miss-you-re-gonna-miss/) [Lou Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-rawls/) ## More by Ernest Sosa > [Philosophers need not much use the word 'intuition' or the concept of intuition, except when they happen to be working on the epistemology of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/philosophers-need-not-much-use-the-word-intuition-or-the-concept-of/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [When you dream, your perceptual (and other) competence is affected. You are then unable to get it right competently with the beliefs in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/when-you-dream-your-perceptual-and-other-competence-is-affected-you/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Ultimately, my more significant agreement is with a virtue tradition that features Aristotle and Descartes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/ultimately-my-more-significant-agreement-is-with-a-virtue-tradition/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [It is bad to want something that not even God could attain, especially when the impossibility becomes obvious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/it-is-bad-to-want-something-that-not-even-god-could-attain-especially/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [I am mainly concerned with unqualified knowledge, by contrast with the varieties of expert knowledge: scientific knowledge of various sorts, legal knowledge, medically expert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/i-am-mainly-concerned-with-unqualified-knowledge-by-contrast-with-the/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [If a shot aimed at aptness succeeds aptly, it is then fully apt, since it is not only apt but also aptly apt. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/if-a-shot-aimed-at-aptness-succeeds-aptly-it-is-then-fully-apt-since/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [It is also certain that when we assent to some piece of reasoning when our perception of it is lacking, then either we go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/it-is-also-certain-that-when-we-assent-to-some-piece-of-reasoning/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [We need some standard that will determine how likely a belief is to be true given just that it is stored in one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/we-need-some-standard-that-will-determine-how-likely-a-belief-is-to/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Descartes's epistemology is a special case of Aristotle's virtue ethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/descartes-s-epistemology-is-a-special-case-of-aristotle-s-virtue/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [There isn't a formal definition of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/there-isn-t-a-formal-definition-of-success/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Success is better than failure; an attempt is a better attempt, it is better as an attempt, if competent than if incompetent; and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/success-is-better-than-failure-an-attempt-is-a-better-attempt-it-is/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Judgment is affirmation with the intention to thereby affirm competently enough, and indeed aptly. That distinguishes judgments from mere guesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/judgment-is-affirmation-with-the-intention-to-thereby-affirm/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Any defense of common sense must allow that it is revisable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/any-defense-of-common-sense-must-allow-that-it-is-revisable/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Given its more substantial aim, a judgment is apt only if its constitutive alethic affirmation is not only apt but aptly apt. The subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/given-its-more-substantial-aim-a-judgment-is-apt-only-if-its/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [We can pursue the Cartesian project without restricting ourselves to theology and a priori faculties. A better, broader perspective is properly sought if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/we-can-pursue-the-cartesian-project-without-restricting-ourselves-to/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) [Explore all 54 Ernest Sosa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) ## More Agents quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. 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