Agency
In sociology, the ability to act describes the ability to act socially , the ability to "set something in motion". In the modern knowledge society, such a faculty can consist of knowledge, according to Francis Bacon's quote "scientia est potentia": "Knowledge is power".
Peter Janich, as a representative of methodical culturalism, sees this as ideally determined by the autonomy of purpose setting, the rationality of choosing means and responsibility for consequences. Such actions can also be omitted by the agent, be the subject of meaningful requests and are judged according to success and failure as well as success and failure (achievement or failure of the purpose). In contrast, there is mere behavior to which none of these provisions apply.