Understanding Moral Weakness (Value Inquiry Book Series)

✍ Scribed by Daniel, P. Thero

• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 191
• Edition: 1St Edition
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book considers the common human predicament that we often choose an action other than the one we perceive to be best. Philosophers know this problem as akrasia. The author develops a nuanced understanding of the nature and causes of akrasia by integrating the best insights of Socrates, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas, and several contemporary philosophers. Studies in the History of Western Philosophy (SHWP) welcomes historical examinations of the nature and development of Western philosophical activity from ancient Greece onward. It promotes understanding of philosophy as a living activity instead of as a system. General philosophical problems and individual authors are studied by the special series within the contexts of time, location, intellectual life, political situation, and cultural movement.

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS......Page 6
Editor’s Introduction......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 10
1. Introduction......Page 12
2. An Example to Start......Page 13
3. Moral Weakness and Theories of Morality......Page 14
5. Organization of the Book......Page 16
1. Introduction......Page 20
2. Background for the Views of the Early Socrates......Page 21
3. Interpretation of the Early Socrates on Strict Akrasia......Page 22
4. Interpretation of the Early Socrates on Weak Akrasia......Page 27
5. Assessment of the Early Socrates’ Position......Page 34
6. The Later Socrates on Akrasia......Page 37
7. Conclusion......Page 40
1. Introduction......Page 42
2. Aristotle on Motivation and Akrasia as a Character Trait......Page 43
3. Practical Wisdom and Akrasia......Page 48
4. The Practical Syllogism and Akrasia......Page 50
5. Conclusion......Page 56
1. Introduction......Page 62
2. Voluntarism vs. Intellectualism......Page 65
3. An Augustinian Explanation of Strict Akrasia......Page 68
4. Augustine Contrasted with Socrates and Aristotle......Page 72
5. Conclusion......Page 76
1. Introduction......Page 78
2. Aquinas on the Will......Page 79
3. Aquinas on Voluntary Action......Page 82
4. Assent, Consent, and Akrasia......Page 83
5. Aquinas on the Importance of Habit......Page 84
6. Aquinas on the Structure of the Akratic Action......Page 85
7. Aquinas Compared with Aristotle and Augustine......Page 88
8. Conclusion......Page 90
1. Introduction......Page 94
2. Diachronic Belief Akrasia......Page 95
3. Evaluation of Terrence M. Penner's Position......Page 100
4. Donald Davidson and Synchronic Akrasia......Page 103
5. Inverse Akrasia......Page 109
6. Conclusion......Page 112
1. Introduction......Page 114
2. Theoretical Issues......Page 115
3. Practical Difficulties......Page 120
4. Conclusion......Page 125
2. Habit Defined......Page 126
3. Habitual Action and Akrasia......Page 127
4. Addiction, Habit, and Akrasia......Page 130
5. Conclusion......Page 133
NINE: Future Prospects......Page 136
Notes......Page 142
C......Page 156
K......Page 157
P......Page 158
S......Page 159
W......Page 160
About the Author......Page 162
A......Page 164
B......Page 165
C......Page 166
E......Page 167
G......Page 168
I......Page 169
L......Page 170
M......Page 171
P......Page 172
R......Page 174
S......Page 175
V......Page 176
Z......Page 177