Against Better Judgment Akrasia in Anthropological Perspectives

Anthropologists have long explained socialbehaviour as if people always do what they think is best. But what if most ofthese explanations only work because they are premised upon ignoring whatphilosophers call 'akrasia' – that is, the possibility that people might actagainst their better judgment? The contributors to this volume turn anethnographic lens upon situations in which people seem to act out of line withwhat they judge, desire and intend. The result is a robust examination of howpeople around the world experience weaknesses of will, which speaks to debatesin both the anthropology of ethics and moral philosophy.