Habitual Weakness

Thought: A Journal of Philosophy 8 (4):270-277 (2019)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The standard case of weakness of will involves a strong temptation leading us to reconsider or act against our judgments. Here, however, I consider cases of what I call ‘habitual weakness', where we resolve to do one thing yet do another not to satisfy any grand desire, but out of habit. After giving several examples, I suggest that habitual weakness has been under-discussed in the literature and explore why. These cases are worth highlighting for their ubiquity, and I show three further advantages of appreciating habitual weakness as a kind of weakness: It challenges purportedly necessary conditions on akrasia, it side-steps outstanding skeptical concerns, and it provides a new model for considering the weak-willed behavior of group agents. I conclude by arguing that cases of habitual weakness are genuine cases of akrasia and weakness of will. Rather than lacking strength of will, habitual weakness involves lacking diligence, vigilance, or fortitude.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 103,449

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Corporate Weakness of Will.Kenneth Silver - forthcoming - Journal of Business Ethics:1-17.
Strong-willed Akrasia.Vida Yao - 2017 - In David Shoemaker, Oxford Studies in Agency and Responsibility Volume 4. Oxford University Press. pp. 06-27.
What is the link between regret and weakness of will?Mathieu Doucet - 2016 - Philosophical Psychology 29 (3):448-461.
Weakness of Will and Practical Identity.Kevin Jung - 2020 - Studies in Christian Ethics 33 (4):463-478.
Weakness of will and akrasia.Alfred Mele - 2010 - Philosophical Studies 150 (3):391–404.
Weakness of Will.Karin Rosemarie Jasper - 1983 - Dissertation, University of Toronto (Canada)
Weakness of Will.Christine Tappolet - 2021 - In Hugh LaFollette, International Encyclopedia of Ethics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. pp. 4412-21.

Analytics

Added to PP
2019-08-21

Downloads
102 (#213,682)

6 months
7 (#469,699)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Kenneth Silver
Trinity College, Dublin

References found in this work

Actions, Reasons, and Causes.Donald Davidson - 1963 - Journal of Philosophy 60 (23):685.
Intention.P. L. Heath - 1960 - Philosophical Quarterly 10 (40):281.
Skepticism about weakness of will.Gary Watson - 1977 - Philosophical Review 86 (3):316-339.
Responsibility and vigilance.Samuel Murray - 2017 - Philosophical Studies 174 (2):507-527.

View all 18 references / Add more references