01 · Side by side

Side by side

Comparison sheet
AspectAkrasiaProcrastination
Failure ofReasonSelf-regulation
Verdict isLive and contradictedPresent but not live
TimingAt the momentOver time
PuzzlingYesIrrational, but explained
02 · Which one you meant

Which one did you mean?

In shortReaders who land here meaning Akrasia rather than Procrastination are usually searching for phrases like “why do I do things I know are bad for me”, “what is akrasia”, “weakness of will philosophy”.

Akrasia

  • “why do I do things I know are bad for me”
  • “what is akrasia”
  • “weakness of will philosophy”
  • “akrasia vs procrastination”
03 · The mix-up

Where the confusion comes from

The mix-up“Akrasia is a fancy word for procrastination or laziness.”
What's true

It's much narrower and stranger: acting against your own all-things-considered judgement at the time of acting, with the judgement still in view. The critical element is an agent who simultaneously holds an evaluative judgement favouring a different action while intentionally pursuing an alternative. Putting off a task because you'd rather not is often just an unexamined preference — not akrasia at all.

04 · Read either one

Read either one in full