Michael Hemmer: Akracia and the Incontinent Man

     While researching for my paper, I came across an interesting concept in Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics. This concept, referred to in english as incontinence or the incontinent man, was represented by the greek word Akrasia. Akrasia refers to a state in which an individual lacks self-control and knowingly acts against their better judgement. Other classic thinkers, such as Socrates, did not believe that this concept existed, rather believing that if someone acting against their best interest is simply due to a lack of information. I think that Socrates' claim is obviously false and it is self-evident that people constantly fall short of their own moral standards. Rather, we must exercise discipline and strength to stay within the bounds of the good. Our wills, it seems, are often too weak. 

    I thought this concept of Akrasia was particularly interesting when thinking about the unfallen or unbent worlds found in Lewis' Space Trilogy. What if all we needed to do the best thing at any given time was knowledge? What a different world that would be. 

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