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Weakness of will, also known as akrasia (Greek, ‘impotence’), is acting against one\'s own better judgement. A person manifests his weakness of will when sincerely judging that it would be best to perform one action, such as paying his debts, but performs another, such as going shopping.
Some philosophers doubt that weakness of will is possible. If an agent seems to judge that it would be best to perform one action, but performs another, then his or her judgement about what it would be best to do is not sincere. One cannot sincerely judge that it would be best to perform one action, but perform another.
Other philosophers argue that weakness of will is possible. They insist that one can sincerely judge that it would be best to perform one action, but intentionally do something else. So, they hold, intending to perform an action is different from sincerely judging that it would be best to perform that action. For one can sincerely judge that it would be best to perform one action, and yet intend to do something else. AJ
Further reading D. Davidson, Essays on Actions and Events. |
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