Wall, D. (2012) A Moorean paradox of desire. Philosophical Explorations. 15(1), pp. 63-84. 1386-9795.
- Information
Information
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:
Creators:
Wall, D.
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
Date:
2012
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 63-84
Journal or Publication Title:
Philosophical Explorations
Volume:
15
Number:
1
Language:
English
ISSN:
1386-9795
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
 |