The problem of Akrasia : from Aristotle to Davidson

Abstract

The problem of akrasia has been around since ancient Greek philosophy and in this dissertation, I aim at seeing different interpretations of it. This dilemma about akrasia started with Socrates’ denial of it in the Protagoras. Plato then speaks of akrasia again in the Republic where one finds a more political view of this dilemma. Aristotle would have to be the most influential in this phenomena and one finds his account of akrasia in two of his works, the Nicomachean Ethics and De Anima. Aristotle’s works bring about two different interpretations; some believe that Aristotle reduced all akrasia to ignorance while others believe that Aristotle did allow for genuine cases of akrasia. Akrasia is still being analysed in contemporary philosophy and the most influential treatment of the subject would be Donald Davidson’s; he tries to create a new kind of analysis of it without separating reason and desire.