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Series:   Elements in Philosophy of Mind

Irrationality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2025

Ema Sullivan-Bissett
Ema Sullivan-Bissett
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham

Summary

This Element surveys contemporary philosophical and psychological work on various forms of irrationality: akrasia, strange beliefs, and implicit bias. It takes up several questions in an effort to better illuminate these more maligned aspects of human behaviour and cognition: what is rationality? Why is it irrational to act against one's better judgement? Could it ever be rational to do so? What's going wrong with beliefs in conspiracy theories, those arising from self-deception, or those which are classed as delusional? Might some of them in fact be appropriate responses to evidence? Are implicit biases irrational when they conflict with our avowed beliefs? Or might they be rational insofar as they track social realities?
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Keywords

irrationalityakrasiastrange beliefimplicit biasevidence
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in Philosophy of Mind
Online ISBN: 9781009641883
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 28 February 2025

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