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Philosophy Mind & Body

Weakness of Will and Practical Irrationality

edited by Sarah Stroud & Christine Tappolet

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Initial publish date
Mar 2008
Category
Mind & Body
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780199235957
    Publish Date
    Mar 2008
    List Price
    $94.00
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780199257362
    Publish Date
    Dec 2003
    List Price
    $170.00

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Description

Among the many practical failures that threaten us, weakness of will or akrasia is often considered to be a paradigm of irrationality. The eleven new essays in this collection, written by an excellent international team of philosophers, some well-established, some younger scholars, give a rich overview of the current debate over weakness of will and practical irrationality more generally. Issues covered include classical questions such as the distinction between weakness and compulsion, the connection between evaluative judgement and motivation, the role of emotions in akrasia, rational agency, and the existence of the will. The also include new topics, such as group akrasia, strength of will, the nature of correct choice, the structure of decision theory, the temporality of prudential reasons, and emotional rationality. Because these questions cut across philosophy of mind and ethics, the collection will be essential reading for scholars, postgraduates, and upper-level undergraduates in both these fields.

About the authors

Sarah Stroud's profile page

Christine Tappolet is the Canada Research Chair in Ethics and Meta-ethics and an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at the Université de Montréal. She is the author of Émotions et Valeurs (2000) and the co-author, with Ruwen Ogien, of Les Concepts de l’éthique (2008) and of several articles in meta-ethics, moral psychology and the philosophy of emotions.

Christine Tappolet's profile page

Editorial Reviews

'... an attractive volume ... [which] represents an important contribution to action theory, philosophy of mind and moral psychology, and should be read by anyone who works in these areas.' Journal of Moral Philosophy

'Review from previous edition ...a valuable resource for anyone interested in the nature of rational action.' Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

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