Irrationality in philosophy and psychology: the moral implications of self-defeating behaviour.
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Authors
James, Christine
Issue Date
1998
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Ethics, Normative Ethics, Philosophy of Psychology, Consciousness Studies, Self Deception
Alternative Title
Abstract
The philosophical study of irrationality can yield interesting insights into the human mind. One provocative issue is self-defeating behaviours, i.e. behaviours that result in failure to achieve one’s apparent goals and ambitions. In this paper I consider a self-defeating behaviour called choking under pressure, explain why it should be considered irrational, and how it is best understood with reference to skills. Then I describe how choking can be explained without appeal to a purely Freudian subconscious or ‘sub-agents’ view of mind. Finally, I will recommend an alternative way to understand self-defeating behaviour which comes from a synthesis of Peter Strawson’s explanation of ‘self-reactive attitudes’, Mark Johnston’s notion of ‘mental tropisms’, and revised Freudian descriptions of the causes of self-defeating behaviour.
Description
James, Christine (1998). Irrationality in philosophy and psychology: the moral implications of self-defeating behaviour. Journal of Consciousness Studies. 1 electronic record (PDF).
Citation
James, C. (1998). Irrationality in philosophy and psychology: the moral implications of self-defeating behaviour. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5(2), 224–234.
Publisher
Journal of Consciousness Studies