The Nicomachean Ethics (Book VII) - Aristotle)

Aristotle view on Weakness of Will

Hybrid View - see as BOTH

1. Ignorant

2. Overcome

A Behavioral taxonomy

1. Virtuous Action

2. Vicious Action

3. Self-Controlled Action

4. Weak-Willed Action

Virtuous Action

• know right thing to do

• DO that right thing b/d of knowledge

• inclined to do right thing

• DOES right thing

Vicious Action

• know what is bad

• DO bad thing b/c of knowledge

• inclined to do bad thing

• DOES bad thing

Self-Controlled Action

• know IN SOME SENSE right thing to do

• DO right thing b/c of sense

• inclined to NOT do right thing

• DOES right thing

Weak-Willed Action

• know IN SOME SENSE right thing to do

• DO right thing b/c of sense

• inclined to NOT do right thing

• DOES bad thing

Aristotle claims Socrates view ______

contradicts facts

Aristotle Views-

weakness of will is possible but the agent is compromised

• agent knows what’s good but b/c overcome by passion they temporarily lose knowledge

Incontinant People

similar to men asleep, mad, or drunk

Knowledge IN THEM -

no influence on behavior

Aristotle agrees w/

BOTH Socrates & Platonic views

• both ignorance & being overcome produce phenomenon

Problem -

not ALL weakness of will overcome by passion

Clear-eyed akrasia

going against better judgement while knowing it is wrong AND not being blinded by passion

• ALSO KNOWN as “Strict weak-willed action”

Our evaluations & motivations -

CAN come apart - even if we don’t yet know how this works it STILL happens