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Against Better Judgment

Akrasia in Anthropological Perspectives
Brief Description
Anthropologists have long explained social behaviour as if people always do what they think is best. But what if most of these explanations only work because they are premised upon ignoring what philosophers call 'akrasia' - that is, the possibility that people might act against their... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Anthropologists have long explained social behaviour as if people always do what they think is best. But what if most of these explanations only work because they are premised upon ignoring what philosophers call 'akrasia' - that is, the possibility that people might act against their better judgment? The contributors to this volume turn an ethnographic lens upon situations in which people seem to act out of line with what they judge, desire and intend. The result is a robust examination of how people around the world experience weaknesses of will, which speaks to debates in both the anthropology of ethics and moral philosophy.

Series: Wyse Social Anthropology

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781836956594

Publisher: Berghahn Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 June 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Berghahn Books

Illustration: Bibliography; Index

Contributors:

  • Edited by Patrick McKearney
  • Edited by Nicholas H. A. Evans

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 0g

Pages: 204

About the Author

Patrick McKearney is an Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam conducting research in the UK, India, and Italy. His recent articles on disability, care, ethics, and religion include publications in Social Analysis, Ethnos, and JRAI. He has also edited two special issues on cognitive disability in The Cambridge Journal of Anthropology and Medical Anthropology.

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