Concept
Akrasia
Philosophy & Ethics
Psychology & MindWhat is akrasia?
Akrasia is the philosophical phenomenon of acting against one's own better judgment while being fully aware of what is right. It describes the frustrating psychological failure where conscious intention fails to translate into coherent ethical or practical action.
In short
Akrasia captures the universal struggle of weakness of the will, where a person knowingly chooses a harmful or inferior course of action. Debated by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, it raises fundamental questions about human rationality and impulse control. Understanding akrasia helps individuals identify the cognitive friction between knowledge and behavior.
Key facts
- What does akrasia mean in classical ethics?
- It translates from Greek as incontinence or lack of command, denoting the state of acting contrary to one's reasoned moral evaluation.
- What was Socrates' position on akrasia?
- Socrates maintained that genuine akrasia is impossible, arguing that what looks like weakness of will is actually temporary ignorance or misjudgment of value.
- How does the Agency text illustrate akrasia?
- The text illustrates akrasia through everyday behaviors such as overeating or mindlessly scrolling through smartphone feeds instead of studying for an upcoming examination.
Overview
Akrasia was first rigorously examined in classical Greece as philosophers struggled to reconcile rational moral agency with self-defeating behavior. In the Protagoras, Socrates argued that no person knowingly chooses what is bad, asserting that individuals only pursue vice when confused about true benefits. Aristotle countered this intellectualist stance in the Nicomachean Ethics, proposing that intense appetites can temporarily eclipse practical wisdom without completely erasing ethical knowledge. In modern cognitive psychology and behavioral economics, akrasia is analyzed through concepts like temporal discounting, cognitive fatigue, and the gap between reflective intent and instinctual action.
In the Agency editorial
In Issue 26, the author introduces akrasia as an intellectual riddle that precedes the study of pharmakon. The newsletter defines akrasia colloquially as knowing what is right yet deliberately doing what is wrong, citing the temptation to browse phones rather than work. The text contrasts the Socratic view that akrasia is mere ignorance with Aristotle's richer psychological account, warning that chronic failure of discernment eventually erodes an individual's long-term agency.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Also from these editions: concepts
Related terms
- Ambiguitynoun
- The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning.
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Sources
- Issue.26 - Pharmakon (opens in a new tab), Agency Brasil