Wall, D. (2012) A Moorean paradox of desire. Philosophical Explorations. 15(1), pp. 63-84. 1386-9795.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Moore's paradox is a paradox in which certain kinds of belief or assertion, such as a belief that ‘it is raining and I do not believe that it is raining’, are irrational despite involving no obvious contradiction in what is believed. But is there a parallel paradox involving other kinds of attitude, in particular desire? I argue that certain kinds of desire would be irrational to have for similar, distinctive reasons that having Moorean beliefs would be irrational to have. Hence, I argue that such desires, a desire that ‘one have a particular desire that was frustrated’ or a desire that ‘some state of affairs obtain about which one was indifferent’, are a parallel Moorean paradox of desire. I further argue that this analogous paradox has implications for practical reasoning, in particular by presenting a problem for instrumentalism about the objects of desire. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Moore’s paradox, desire, belief, instrumentalism, philosophy of mind, philosophy of action |
| Subjects: |
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) > B790 Modern > B850 By region or country > B1647.M74 Moore B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BD Speculative Philosophy > BD418.3 Philosophy of mind |
| Creators: | Wall, David |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016) Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Applied Social Studies & Sociology |
| Date: | 2012 |
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Page Range: | pp. 63-84 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Philosophical Explorations |
| Volume: | 15 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1080/13869795.2012.646937 |
| ISSN: | 1386-9795 |
| Status: | Published / Disseminated |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4647 |
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