(This is a rough attempt to start working this out to my satisfaction. The kinds of cooperation end up being quite important, because different kinds of cooperation can raise different practical and ethical questions and problems.)
Every action has an intention, where this is not synonymous merely with 'intent', but the actual disposition of the person in the action itself. Because of this, we can divide the kinds of cooperation with an action into three categories: prior to or preparatory of the intention, with the intention, and posterior to the intention.
Cooperation Prior to the Intention
Cooperation prior to the intention can be clearing or contributing.
Clearing cooperation occurs when it tends to the action not being impeded. This can be indirect, in which case it is refusal to impede, or direct, in which cases it is removal of impediment.
Contributing cooperation prior to the intention occurs when we have an action of an agent that disposes another agent to act, particularly by contributing to deliberation. This can be either because the first agent is acting as if a principal cause, in which case the cooperation is command, or as if a ministerial cause, in which case the cooperation is counsel/advice, which would include things like encouragement or exhortation beforehand.
Cooperation with the Intention
Cooperation with the intention can be direct, in which case we have participation in the act itself. For instance, two people rowing a boat together are cooperating by participation in the one action of rowing.
It can also be indirect, in which case it is express consent to the action. This can have many forms, but one common one is when someone cooperates with an action of which they are the patient.
Cooperation Posterior to the Intention
Cooperation posterior to the intention concerns the response to the action having been done, and it can be cooperation by positive response, in which case we have praise/applause/reward, or by shielding from negative response, which can be direct, in which case we have protection, or indirect, in which case we have concealment or, as we often say, 'cover-up'.
