First Published in 2004. Since before Plato, philosophers have puzzled over why it is that people will sometimes deliberately take the worst course of action. The book begins by examining the various theories put forward by Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics and a selection of medieval philosophers and discusses how and why later philosophers avoid the problem. In the second section, Justin Gosling argues that familiar ways of viewing the problem mislocate the apparent irrationality of weakness. The author then moves on to the traditional cases of being overcome by passion to argue for a further sense in which weakness may be thought irrational, and to open up an unusually wide field of examples for consideration.

Reviews

`(The book) is a first rate piece of work which will make a substantial contribution to the subject ... Existing discussions of these problems tend to be abstract and excessively rationalistic. Gosling brings the problems down to earth, with a rich variety of carefully drawn examples and nice distinctions....forcing the reader again and again to question common formulations and standing presumptions. The resulting view is complex but convincing' - Gene Mason, University of Minnesota

`... required reading for anyone approaching this perennial problem.' - Philosophical Studies

Book Information
ISBN 9781138009158
Author Justin Gosling
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 272g