Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
331679 | New Ideas in Psychology | 2009 | 14 Pages |
Abstract
Soritic thinking based on reasoning that is involved in the sorites paradox plays a crucial role in some forms of weakness of will. Such soritic reasoning leads to failures of behavior, but cannot be shown to be irrational by standard means. Thus weakness of will appears to be rational, whereas strength of will is irrational when viewed soritically. The puzzle is how to undermine weakness of will and expose it as irrational. Even though such weakness of will is not moral, moral-type reasoning involving the principle of equality can be brought to bear. Weakness of will can also be seen to be analogous to free-rider problems and the prisoner's dilemma.
Keywords
Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities
Psychology
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Authors
Stephen P. Schwartz,