my understanding Plato claims "all men desire the Good", however they may be wrong in regard to what is Good. This also holds close relation to the what part of our being rules the others (reason, desire and spirit), which may cause us to develop a wrong understanding of what is Good — Tzeentch
Ego depletion, useful idea. — fdrake
The ego here is used in the psychological sense. — Amity
The ego here is used in the psychological sense.
— Amity
Ego depletion doesn't really require the Freudian notion of the ego to get going. As a phenomenon, all it requires is that people exhibit less self control when they're in states of fatigue, especially when that fatigue is induced by concentration or tasks which otherwise require self control.
I think it's a reasonable idea that's fraught with problems when trying to experimentally verify it.
13 hours ago — fdrake
Given Socrates's premises, though, it's hard to argue against him. That is, most arguments with Socrates simply fail to correctly engage with his thinking. — tim wood
Willpower is needed to cross a hurdle. I mean a negative experience may required to be digested before getting to your happy zone.
So, I see nothing great in willpower and those who have it. It's just one of those mind hacks people write books about. They sell well. I'm at a loss why. — TheMadFool
So I think the reason Socrates states ἀκρασία cannot exist, is because one is not acting against their better judgement, but their judgement was simply wrong, likely due to the fact that the wrong part of their nature was in control when the judgement was passed. — Tzeentch
I Ihink that what we perceive as someone being 'driven towards something that is bad for him', like drinking, is someone who in that moment believes (perhaps wrongly) that drinking is good for him. Such judgements, which reason knows to be wrong, may be perceived as right by the desire or spirit. In your example, Sam is depressed. Such a state of mind can only be ruled by spirit (emotion), and it is in all likelihood his spirit that is convincing him to drink. Reason is not in control, thus Sam is driven towards things that are bad for him, though his spirit is telling him otherwise. — Tzeentch
I do believe ἐγκράτεια and ἀκρασία are byproducts of Fate. You may fight to preserve the one over the other for a while, and you may make it to the end! But, depending on where you live, the forces around you, etc etc etc......it seems more and more a crap shoot. — Not
can we not say that depression is the presence of profound sadness, or the absence of happiness, therefore the natural domain of spirit? — Tzeentch
My own feeling is that I would love for akrasia not to exist because then who could then judge another for it ! — Amity
The tripartite soul of the Republic is not an accurate description of an actual soul, it is, rather, a noble lie intended to bring harmony to the conflicting desires within us. — Fooloso4
The premise of the Republic is how to not be overwhelmed by bad things. — Valentinus
If there is a more accurate Platonic view of the soul, what is that? — Valentinus
What support do you have for that? The premise as stated is to defend justice against the argument put forward by Thrasymachus that whatever is beneficial to you. — Fooloso4
As far as my understanding goes, Socrates is not saying spirit is always an ally of reason. Instead, he is giving an example where reason, being firmly in control, may ally with spirit to control desire. After all, shouldn't reason propel a man to feel anger for being a slave to his desires? Thus there are cases in which spirit can aid reason. A man's passions are a powerful thing, and if guided can lead a man to greatness. If they are not, they may lead him to ruin. If they are denied or suppressed, they will surely return with a vengeance. — Tzeentch
Akrasia (/əˈkreɪziə/; Greek ἀκρασία, "lacking command"), occasionally transliterated as acrasia or Anglicised as acrasy or acracy, is described as a lack of self-control or the state of acting against one's better judgment.[1] The adjectival form is "akratic". — Amity
If you think that willpower is needed to overcome any obstacle in the path to achieving some goal, then it seems a contradiction for you to 'see nothing great' in it. Can you explain further ? — Amity
For example, there are negative thought patterns. And various other cognitive distortions.
This is the province of reasoning. And can be alleviated by cognitive behavioural therapy ( CBT ) amongst other treatments. — Amity
I am not sure what you are trying to imply by bringing in aspects of the Good, or even deception by spirit.
I am frankly uneasy with your understanding of depression. There seems to be a moral element creeping in. For example - if you are thinking of a spiritual depression, what do you consider would be the causes and cures ? — Amity
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