Self-control in action and belief. (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Orlandi, Martina; Stroud, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Philosophical explorations. Volume 24:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 242
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: Self-control -- akrasia -- belief -- continence -- temperance -- character -- temptation‌; Philosophy of mind -- Periodicals; Act (Philosophy) -- Periodicals; 128
• DOI: 10.1080/13869795.2021.1908576
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-9795

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Self-control is normally, if only tacitly, viewed as an inherently practical capacity or achievement: as exercised only in the domain of action. Questioning this assumption, we wish to motivate the perhaps unexpected idea that self-control is in fact a transversal phenomenon which is applicable both to action and to belief. While there may be some differences in how self-control is manifested in the respective realms of action and belief, these differences do not undermine the basic takeaway: that agents can and do exercise self-control with respect to both actions and beliefs. These arguments target synchronic self-control, or the exercise of self-control on a discrete occasion; in the final section, we examine whether there is also a more holistic trait or stable state of a person which could aptly be considered a form of self-control.