General assessments and attractive exceptions: temptation in Planning, Time, and Self-Governance. Issue 9 (21st October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andreou, Chrisoula
• Is Part Of: Inquiry. Volume 64:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 892
• Page End: 900
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21
• Subjects: Anticipated future regret -- evaluative standpoint -- planning agency -- prior intention -- temptation -- temporary judgment shift; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social Sciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Philosophie -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Philosophie -- Périodiques; 105
• DOI: 10.1080/0020174X.2019.1663010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-174X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: One of Bratman's aims in Planning, Time, and Self-Governance is to develop his insights regarding planning to shed light on temptation. I focus on the main case of temptation Bratman appeals to in supporting his conclusion that it can be rational for an agent facing temptation to stick to her prior plan even if she finds herself with an evaluative judgment that favors deviating. Bratman's reasoning is meant to be consistent with the priority of present evaluation, and to be sensitive to Smart's insight that, as Bratman puts it, 'inference from the advantages of the general habit [of non-reconsideration] directly to a specific conclusion about what to do on the present occasion, once the question of what to do on the present occasion is raised, is fraught.' My reasoning suggests that, interpreted in one way, the case Bratman uses to make his argument is not clearly a case of giving in to temptation (or else not a case that requires the sort of novel contribution Bratman thinks is needed); and interpreted otherwise, the case does not raise exactly the challenges Bratman suggests it does, and the challenges it does raise are not directly addressed by the solution Bratman provides.