Abstract The author analyses the problem of weak will in Leo Tolstoy’s story Father Sergius . She ponders why protagonist, a man with such heightened awareness good and evil, at some point his life chooses evil. places ( akrasia ) first into context various iterations determinism subsequently considerations raised by Socrates Aristotle. As their answers are not fully applicable to titular chara...

Abstract Ignorance is commonly assumed to be a lack of knowledge in Plato’s Socratic dialogues. I challenge that assumption. In the Protagoras , ignorance conceived substantive, structural psychic flaw—the soul’s domination by inferior elements are nature fit ruled. Ignorant people characterized both false beliefs about evaluative matters specific situations and an enduring deception their own ...

This paper discusses how economic ethics can profit from taking into account the results of behavioral economics. In contrast to the neo-classical mainstream of economics, behavioral economics does not presuppose the model of ‘economic man’, but explores the ways in which real human beings make economic decisions. The example of akrasia and its effects on old-age saving shows that behavioral ec...

Abstract Is it ever rational to suspend judgment about whether a particular doxastic attitude of ours is rational? An agent who suspends her has serious doubts that is. These place special burden on the agent, namely, justify maintaining chosen over others. A dilemma arises. Providing justification for would commit considering rational—contrary suspension matter. Alternatively, in absence such ...

At least since the middle of the twentieth century, philosophers have tended to identify weakness of will with akrasia—i.e. acting, or having a disposition to act, contrary to one ̳s judgments about what is best for one to do. However, there has been some recent debate about whether this captures the ordinary notion of weakness of will. Richard Holton (1999, 2009) claims that it doesn‘t, while A...

Abstract There is a dimension of rationality, known as structural according to which paradigmatic example what it means be rational not akratic. Although some philosophers claim that aesthetics falls within the scope non-akrasia constraint prohibiting certain combinations attitudes yet developed in this domain. This essay concerned with question whether such requirement plausible and, if so, an...