Rational Epistemic Akrasia for the Ambivalent Pragmatist

Abstract

: Epistemic akrasia can be rational. I consider a lonely pragmatist who believes that her imaginary friend doesn’t exist, and also believes on pragmatic grounds that she should believe in him. She rationally believes that her imaginary friend doesn’t exist, rationally follows various sources of evidence to the view that she should believe in him to end her loneliness, and rationally holds these attitudes simultaneously. Evidentialism suggests that her ambivalent epistemic state is rational, as considerations grounded in the value of truth justify her beliefs. Bio: Neil Associate He has written Humean Nature and co-edited Nietzsche and Morality , both with Oxford University Press. His interests include metaethics and the many interesting questions on its borders.