Acting against better knowledge: On the problem of the weakness of the will in Plato, Davidson, and Kant

Journal of Value Inquiry

Volumn 36, Issue 2-3, 2002, Pages 235-252

  Baumgarten, Hans Ulrich ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF FREIBURG   (Germany)

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[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0141516264     PISSN: 00225363     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1023/A:1016100402655     Document Type: Review

References (65)

1. See Donald Davidson, "How is Weakness of the Will Possible?", in Davidson ed., Essays on Actions & Events (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980), pp. 21-42.
2. Kant, Logic, in Kant, Kants gesammelte Schriften, ed. Königlich Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1902-), vol. 9, p. 25, abr. Ak 9: 25.
3. Cf. Aristotle, Metaphysics, in Richard McKeon, ed., The Basic Works of Aristotle (New York: Random House, 1941), 982b16 f.
4. Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, trans. Paul Guyer and Allen Wood (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997), Axi.
5. Plato, Laws, in Edith Hamilton and Huntington Cairns, eds., The Collected Dialogues of Plato (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1978), 644d7; and Plato, Theaetetus, op. cit., 155d.
6. Plato, Laws, in Edith Hamilton and Huntington Cairns, eds., The Collected Dialogues of Plato (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1978), 644d7; and Plato, Theaetetus, op. cit., 155d.
7. Ibid., 174b. Cf. Aristotle, Metaphysics, 982b16.
8. Ibid., 174b. Cf. Aristotle, Metaphysics, 982b16.
9. Euripedes, The Medea, in David Greene and Richmond Lattimore, eds.,
10. Euripides I, trans. Rex Werner (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1956), 1076-1080.
11. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, trans. Mary Gregor, in Immanuel Kant, Practical Philosophy (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996), Ak 4: 412.
12. See Gerold Prauss, Kant über Freiheit als Autonomie (Frankfurt: Klostermann, 1983), pp. 62 ff.
13. See G.R.F. Ferrari, "Akrasia as Neurosis in Plato's Protagoras," in Proceedings in the Boston Area Colloquim in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 6 (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1990); J. Gosling, Weakness of Will (New York: Routledge, 1990); E.J. Lemmon, "Moral Dilemmas," Philosophical Review 71 (1962); T. Penner, "Plato and Davidson: Parts of the Soul and Weakness of Will," Canadian Journal of Philosophy, supplement 16 (1990); G. Santas, "Plato's Protagoras and Explanation of Weakness," in G. Vlastos, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1980); and G. Mortimer, ed., Weakness of Will (London: St. Martin's Press, 1971).
14. See G.R.F. Ferrari, "Akrasia as Neurosis in Plato's Protagoras," in Proceedings in the Boston Area Colloquim in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 6 (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1990); J. Gosling, Weakness of Will (New York: Routledge, 1990); E.J. Lemmon, "Moral Dilemmas," Philosophical Review 71 (1962); T. Penner, "Plato and Davidson: Parts of the Soul and Weakness of Will," Canadian Journal of Philosophy, supplement 16 (1990); G. Santas, "Plato's Protagoras and Explanation of Weakness," in G. Vlastos, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1980); and G. Mortimer, ed., Weakness of Will (London: St. Martin's Press, 1971).
15. See G.R.F. Ferrari, "Akrasia as Neurosis in Plato's Protagoras," in Proceedings in the Boston Area Colloquim in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 6 (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1990); J. Gosling, Weakness of Will (New York: Routledge, 1990); E.J. Lemmon, "Moral Dilemmas," Philosophical Review 71 (1962); T. Penner, "Plato and Davidson: Parts of the Soul and Weakness of Will," Canadian Journal of Philosophy, supplement 16 (1990); G. Santas, "Plato's Protagoras and Explanation of Weakness," in G. Vlastos, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1980); and G. Mortimer, ed., Weakness of Will (London: St. Martin's Press, 1971).
16. See G.R.F. Ferrari, "Akrasia as Neurosis in Plato's Protagoras," in Proceedings in the Boston Area Colloquim in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 6 (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1990); J. Gosling, Weakness of Will (New York: Routledge, 1990); E.J. Lemmon, "Moral Dilemmas," Philosophical Review 71 (1962); T. Penner, "Plato and Davidson: Parts of the Soul and Weakness of Will," Canadian Journal of Philosophy, supplement 16 (1990); G. Santas, "Plato's Protagoras and Explanation of Weakness," in G. Vlastos, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1980); and G. Mortimer, ed., Weakness of Will (London: St. Martin's Press, 1971).
17. See G.R.F. Ferrari, "Akrasia as Neurosis in Plato's Protagoras," in Proceedings in the Boston Area Colloquim in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 6 (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1990); J. Gosling, Weakness of Will (New York: Routledge, 1990); E.J. Lemmon, "Moral Dilemmas," Philosophical Review 71 (1962); T. Penner, "Plato and Davidson: Parts of the Soul and Weakness of Will," Canadian Journal of Philosophy, supplement 16 (1990); G. Santas, "Plato's Protagoras and Explanation of Weakness," in G. Vlastos, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1980); and G. Mortimer, ed., Weakness of Will (London: St. Martin's Press, 1971).
18. See G.R.F. Ferrari, "Akrasia as Neurosis in Plato's Protagoras," in Proceedings in the Boston Area Colloquim in Ancient Philosophy, vol. 6 (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1990); J. Gosling, Weakness of Will (New York: Routledge, 1990); E.J. Lemmon, "Moral Dilemmas," Philosophical Review 71 (1962); T. Penner, "Plato and Davidson: Parts of the Soul and Weakness of Will," Canadian Journal of Philosophy, supplement 16 (1990); G. Santas, "Plato's Protagoras and Explanation of Weakness," in G. Vlastos, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1980); and G. Mortimer, ed., Weakness of Will (London: St. Martin's Press, 1971).
19. Plato, Protagoras, 352e6 ff.
20. Ibid., 353c7 f.
21. See ibid., 352a 358e.
22. See ibid., 352b f.
23. See J.P. Sullivan, "The Hedonism in Plato's Protagoras," Phronesis 6 (1961); A. Sesonke, "Hedonism in the Protagoras," Journal of the History of Philosophy 5 (1967); R. Weiss, "The Hedonic Calculus in the Protagoras and the Phaedo," Journal of the History of Philosophy 27 (1989); T. Irwin, Plato's Ethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. 81 ff; and D.J. Zeyl, "Socrates and Hedonism: Protagoras 351b-358d," Phronesis 25 (1980), p. 260. See also Hans-Ulrich Baumgarten, Handlungstheorien bie Platon. Platon auf dem Weg zum Willen (Stuttgart: Metzler, 1998), pp. 75-115.
24. See J.P. Sullivan, "The Hedonism in Plato's Protagoras," Phronesis 6 (1961); A. Sesonke, "Hedonism in the Protagoras," Journal of the History of Philosophy 5 (1967); R. Weiss, "The Hedonic Calculus in the Protagoras and the Phaedo," Journal of the History of Philosophy 27 (1989); T. Irwin, Plato's Ethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. 81 ff; and D.J. Zeyl, "Socrates and Hedonism: Protagoras 351b-358d," Phronesis 25 (1980), p. 260. See also Hans-Ulrich Baumgarten, Handlungstheorien bie Platon. Platon auf dem Weg zum Willen (Stuttgart: Metzler, 1998), pp. 75-115.
25. See J.P. Sullivan, "The Hedonism in Plato's Protagoras," Phronesis 6 (1961); A. Sesonke, "Hedonism in the Protagoras," Journal of the History of Philosophy 5 (1967); R. Weiss, "The Hedonic Calculus in the Protagoras and the Phaedo," Journal of the History of Philosophy 27 (1989); T. Irwin, Plato's Ethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. 81 ff; and D.J. Zeyl, "Socrates and Hedonism: Protagoras 351b-358d," Phronesis 25 (1980), p. 260. See also Hans-Ulrich Baumgarten, Handlungstheorien bie Platon. Platon auf dem Weg zum Willen (Stuttgart: Metzler, 1998), pp. 75-115.
26. See J.P. Sullivan, "The Hedonism in Plato's Protagoras," Phronesis 6 (1961); A. Sesonke, "Hedonism in the Protagoras," Journal of the History of Philosophy 5 (1967); R. Weiss, "The Hedonic Calculus in the Protagoras and the Phaedo," Journal of the History of Philosophy 27 (1989); T. Irwin, Plato's Ethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. 81 ff; and D.J. Zeyl, "Socrates and Hedonism: Protagoras 351b-358d," Phronesis 25 (1980), p. 260. See also Hans-Ulrich Baumgarten, Handlungstheorien bie Platon. Platon auf dem Weg zum Willen (Stuttgart: Metzler, 1998), pp. 75-115.
27. See J.P. Sullivan, "The Hedonism in Plato's Protagoras," Phronesis 6 (1961); A. Sesonke, "Hedonism in the Protagoras," Journal of the History of Philosophy 5 (1967); R. Weiss, "The Hedonic Calculus in the Protagoras and the Phaedo," Journal of the History of Philosophy 27 (1989); T. Irwin, Plato's Ethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. 81 ff; and D.J. Zeyl, "Socrates and Hedonism: Protagoras 351b-358d," Phronesis 25 (1980), p. 260. See also Hans-Ulrich Baumgarten, Handlungstheorien bie Platon. Platon auf dem Weg zum Willen (Stuttgart: Metzler, 1998), pp. 75-115.
28. See J.P. Sullivan, "The Hedonism in Plato's Protagoras," Phronesis 6 (1961); A. Sesonke, "Hedonism in the Protagoras," Journal of the History of Philosophy 5 (1967); R. Weiss, "The Hedonic Calculus in the Protagoras and the Phaedo," Journal of the History of Philosophy 27 (1989); T. Irwin, Plato's Ethics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), pp. 81 ff; and D.J. Zeyl, "Socrates and Hedonism: Protagoras 351b-358d," Phronesis 25 (1980), p. 260. See also Hans-Ulrich Baumgarten, Handlungstheorien bie Platon. Platon auf dem Weg zum Willen (Stuttgart: Metzler, 1998), pp. 75-115.
29. See Plato, Protagoras, 353c ff.
30. Ibid., 345b.
31. Ibid., 354b7 ff.
32. Ibid., 354c6 ff.
33. Ibid., 355d1 ff.
34. Ibid., 355ef.
35. Ibid., 356a f.
36. Ibid., 357b4.
37. Ibid., 357e2.
38. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1144b29 f.
39. Ibid., 1145b25 ff.
40. See O. Höffe, Praktische Philosophie. Des Model des Aristoteles, 2nd ed. (Berlin: Akademie, 1996), pp. 66 ff.
41. Aristotle, Eudemian Ethics, 1216b10 f.
42. Cf. Plato, Protagoras 352 c1 f.,
43. and Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1145b2 f.
44. E.R. Dodds, The Greeks and the Irrational (Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 1957), p. 17.
45. Cf. Dodds, ibid.
46. See Plato, Laws, 886a9 and 908c2.
47. Cf. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1145a15 ff. and 1146b24 ff.
48. See Baumgarten, op. cit., pp. 19 ff. and 209 ff.
49. Davidson, "How is Weakness of the Will Possible?", p. 21.
50. See ibid., p. 30n14.
51. Ibid., p. 23.
52. Ibid., p. 26.
53. Ibid., p. 32.
54. I b i d.
55. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Ak 4: 394.
56. Davidson, "How is Weakness of the Will Possible?", p. 40.
57. Ibid., p. 41.
58. Ibid., p. 42.
59. Kant, Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, in Immanuel Kant, Religion and Rational Theology (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996), trans. George di Giovanni, Ak 6: 35.
60. Kant, Notes for The Metaphysics of Morals, Ak 23: 389.
61. Kant, Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, Ak 6: 32.
62. Kant, Critique of Practical Reason, in Kant, Practical Philosophy, Ak 5: 116.
63. See Gerold Prauss, Die Welt und wir, vol. I, parts 1-2, and vol. II, part 1 (Stutgart: Metzler, 1990, 1993, and 1999).
64. Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Ak 4: 429.
65. Translated by Predrag Cicovacki.