Akrasia
- “why do I do things I know are bad for me”
- “what is akrasia”
- “weakness of will philosophy”
- “akrasia vs procrastination”
| Aspect | Akrasia | Procrastination |
|---|---|---|
| Failure of | Reason | Self-regulation |
| Verdict is | Live and contradicted | Present but not live |
| Timing | At the moment | Over time |
| Puzzling | Yes | Irrational, but explained |
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”.
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.