The Cynic’s Theory may in fact describe a true state of mind, but it is not describing akrasia. The Cynic’s Theory might better describe those minds whose preferences are placed by exterior influences that conflict with their internal, consciously hidden preferences. An example may be someone who always thought they wanted to be a doctor but deep down knew they wanted to be an artist.
However, when I think of Akrasia, I don’t think of incompatible goals or hidden preferences, I think of compatible goals but an inability to consciously exert control of your willpower in achieving the agreed upon goals. When you finally stop procrastinating and get going, you feel wonderful and wonder why you couldn’t have done it sooner—but then you go through the same problem the next time again. Akrasia is a problem of forming/eliminating automatic behaviors, aka habits. So in my opinion, the Cynic’s theory does not shed any light on the problem of akrasia.
OK, so your major piece of evidence arguing against the ‘conflicting-minds’ paradigm is that once we conquer some akrasia and get started, we ‘feel wonderful’?
I don’t think that works. Akrasia is about things we do enjoy, and also about things we don’t enjoy.
I have akrasia about going to my Taekwondo classes, even though I know perfectly well that I’ll enjoy them once I’m there. But I also have akrasia about things I don’t enjoy doing (like working through homework problems) - and this latter case is by far the majority of akrasia instances.
The former is easily explained by different time-preferences—one part of me prefers the here and now, while another part recognizes that stopping whatever I’m doing, getting ready, and going to class will lead to a more enjoyable and healthy hour than my current activity. And the latter is easily explained the same way by multiple factions as well, as simply one faction valuing the abstract utility or long-term consequences over avoiding the short-term disutility.
Forming/eliminating habits has nothing to do with it, except as a tactic to support one side over the other. (‘I don’t want to go to Taekwondo!’ ‘But this is what we usually do at this time, and someone’s waiting—come along already.’) And this insight—that there are multiple factions—is the contribution of the naive/cynical theory. Once we know that, we can figure out how to exploit the stupidity or greed of the disfavored faction.
You might have misunderstood me. I did not limit akrasia to only things we enjoy. I said actually getting going on the task, whether inherently enjoyable or not, is what ‘feels wonderful’. I hate going to the dentist, but actually engaging in the process of going to the office and getting it over with feels pretty good as an accomplishment.
And forming the habit of not procrastinating is a very big part of it, IMO. To stop putting things off and automatically jump into a task is a positive habit that does a great deal against akrasia. Why do you think juvenile delinquents get sent off to boot camp or some other long period of regimented experience. To form those habits which will mold their character accordingly.
The Cynic’s Theory may in fact describe a true state of mind, but it is not describing akrasia. The Cynic’s Theory might better describe those minds whose preferences are placed by exterior influences that conflict with their internal, consciously hidden preferences. An example may be someone who always thought they wanted to be a doctor but deep down knew they wanted to be an artist.
However, when I think of Akrasia, I don’t think of incompatible goals or hidden preferences, I think of compatible goals but an inability to consciously exert control of your willpower in achieving the agreed upon goals. When you finally stop procrastinating and get going, you feel wonderful and wonder why you couldn’t have done it sooner—but then you go through the same problem the next time again. Akrasia is a problem of forming/eliminating automatic behaviors, aka habits. So in my opinion, the Cynic’s theory does not shed any light on the problem of akrasia.
OK, so your major piece of evidence arguing against the ‘conflicting-minds’ paradigm is that once we conquer some akrasia and get started, we ‘feel wonderful’?
I don’t think that works. Akrasia is about things we do enjoy, and also about things we don’t enjoy.
I have akrasia about going to my Taekwondo classes, even though I know perfectly well that I’ll enjoy them once I’m there. But I also have akrasia about things I don’t enjoy doing (like working through homework problems) - and this latter case is by far the majority of akrasia instances.
The former is easily explained by different time-preferences—one part of me prefers the here and now, while another part recognizes that stopping whatever I’m doing, getting ready, and going to class will lead to a more enjoyable and healthy hour than my current activity. And the latter is easily explained the same way by multiple factions as well, as simply one faction valuing the abstract utility or long-term consequences over avoiding the short-term disutility.
Forming/eliminating habits has nothing to do with it, except as a tactic to support one side over the other. (‘I don’t want to go to Taekwondo!’ ‘But this is what we usually do at this time, and someone’s waiting—come along already.’) And this insight—that there are multiple factions—is the contribution of the naive/cynical theory. Once we know that, we can figure out how to exploit the stupidity or greed of the disfavored faction.
You might have misunderstood me. I did not limit akrasia to only things we enjoy. I said actually getting going on the task, whether inherently enjoyable or not, is what ‘feels wonderful’. I hate going to the dentist, but actually engaging in the process of going to the office and getting it over with feels pretty good as an accomplishment.
And forming the habit of not procrastinating is a very big part of it, IMO. To stop putting things off and automatically jump into a task is a positive habit that does a great deal against akrasia. Why do you think juvenile delinquents get sent off to boot camp or some other long period of regimented experience. To form those habits which will mold their character accordingly.
Would it be evidence against your theory that the benefits of boot camp are not clear for juvenile delinquents?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_camp_%28correctional%29#Criticisms