Subject: Re: [HAB:] Coping with ethical akrasia
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 16:55:39 +0100



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary E. Davis" <coherings-AT-yahoo.com>
> 
> G: I can agree. But, then, it's self-interest that
> makes one unreliable in caring about the interests or
> rights of others which, in turn, requires regulation
> via law. It's self-interest that makes people
> untrustworthy. So, sure, trustworthiness isn't the
> nature of the issue, just the effect that calls for
> regulation of self-interest. From the perspective of
> experience by the other or objectively, we can't rely
> on self-interest to care about others; we can't trust
> others to care *due to* self-interest. 
> 
> > So weakness of will - how Gary describes akrasia -
> seems not to   be the problem, but rather, how the
> will is exerted.
> 
> G: I realized after I sent the email that 'akrasia'
> might be unknown to readers, since (I discovered) it's
> not in my standard dictionaries (not even a search of
> Encyclopedia Britannica online turns up an entry for
> the term). It's a term often used in philosophy, from
> Greek, which is standardly (among philosophers)
> defined as "weakness of will."
> 
> Usually, everybody (including those dominated by
> self-interest) agree that "we" should care about
> others. But self-interest gets the better of us, even
> though we know we "should" care more about others.
> What is it about us that lets self-interest dominate
> our better  sense? 

But self-interest doesn't dominate our "better sense".
those who are more ruthless will probably survive and
thrive.  Surely what should make a difference is
knowledge - about where the world is headed - 
environmentally, and politically/economically/socially.
And this kind of knowledge doesn't come from a "sense."
It comes from learning it, from being able to think about
the future.

Sue McPherson





"You" know you should be more
> courteous on the road, but you've got your priorities.
> It's a weakness of will, at least: the norms  are
> unquestionably valid (traffic rules prevent accidents,
> if everyone follows them), but we push our luck
> anyway. 
> 
> 



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