Akrasia in Epictetus: A Comparison with Aristotle

Apeiron 53 (4):397-417 (2020)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

This paper argues that Epictetus’ ethics involves three features which are also present in Aristotle’s discussion of akrasia in the Nicomachean Ethics: 1) A major problem for agents is when they fail to render a universal premise effective at motivating a particular action in accordance with that premise. 2) There are two reasons this occurs: Precipitancy and Weakness. 3) Precipitancy and Weakness can be prevented by gaining a fuller understanding of our beliefs and commitments. This comparison should make clear that akrasia is certainly not absent from Epictetus. Rather a very Aristotelian understanding of why we fail to act in accordance with what we take to be in our own best interests remains at the center of his ethics.

Other Versions

No versions found

Similar books and articles

Aristotle on pleasure and the worst form of akrasia.Devin Henry - 2002 - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 5 (3):255-270.
Akrasia and conflict in the Nicomachean Ethics.Mehmet Metin Erginel - 2016 - British Journal for the History of Philosophy 24 (4):573-593.
Aquinas, Aristotle, and Akrasia.Jean Alden Mccurdy Meade - 2000 - Dissertation, Tulane University
Aristotle's Conception of Moral Weakness (review). [REVIEW]Josiah Gould - 1965 - Journal of the History of Philosophy 3 (2):262-264.
On Two Solutions To Akrasia.Don Berkich - 2006 - Philosophical Writings 33 (3).
Corporate Weakness of Will.Kenneth Silver - forthcoming - Journal of Business Ethics:1-17.
Strong-willed Akrasia.Vida Yao - 2017 - In David Shoemaker, Oxford Studies in Agency and Responsibility Volume 4. Oxford University Press. pp. 06-27.
Does Locke Have an Akrasia Problem?Leonardo Moauro & Samuel C. Rickless - 2019 - Journal of Modern Philosophy 1 (1):9.

Analytics

Added to PP
2019-06-19

Downloads
765 (#34,195)

6 months
153 (#30,202)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Michael Tremblay
Queen's University

Citations of this work

Epictetus.Margaret Graver - 2009 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Add more citations

References found in this work

The Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle - 1951 - Revue Philosophique de la France Et de l'Etranger 143:477-478.
Aristotle on learning to be good.Myles Burnyeat - 1980 - In Amélie Rorty, Essays on Aristotle's Ethics. University of California Press. pp. 69–92.
5. Aristotle on Learning to Be Good.Myles Burnyeat - 1980 - In Amélie Rorty, Essays on Aristotle's Ethics. University of California Press. pp. 69-92.
Ethics and human action in early Stoicism.Brad Inwood - 1985 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Epictetus: a Stoic and Socratic guide to life.Anthony Arthur Long - 2002 - New York: Oxford University Press.

View all 18 references / Add more references