The real puzzle of the self-torturer: uncovering a new dimension of instrumental rationality. Issue 5 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andreou, Chrisoula
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of philosophy. Volume 45:Issue 5/6(2015)
• Page Start: 562
• Page End: 575
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Cyclic preferences -- instrumental rationality -- intransitivity -- puzzle of the self-torturer -- resoluteness -- vagueness -- Warren Quinn; Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1080/00455091.2015.1118232
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-5091

Abstract

Abstract: The puzzle of the self-torturer raises intriguing questions concerning rationality, cyclic preferences, and resoluteness. Interestingly, what makes the case puzzling has not been clearly pinpointed. The puzzle, it seems, is that a series of rational choices foreseeably leads the self-torturer to an option that serves his preferences worse than the one with which he started. But this is a very misleading way of casting the puzzle. I pinpoint the real puzzle of the self-torturer and, in the process, reveal a neglected but crucial dimension of instrumental rationality.