Akrasia Blog

    Knowing the difference between what is morally right and wrong is something that is instilled in us from a young age. As long as we are not psychopathic or completely devoid of empathy, we come to understand the consequences of our actions. However, even after developing this moral compass that allows for us to self-evaluate certain situations, humans still partake in actions that go against the verdict that we reach and ultimately end up either hurting ourselves, other people, or perhaps both.

    When simplified to this extent, it may be difficult to determine why humans go against the better of their judgment when they are fully able to understand what could come of their actions. However, a potential explanation is the human desire for pleasure and personal enjoyment, no matter how fleeting these emotions may be. The need for these emotions is what cultivates an addiction. This could be seen with the concept of procrastination. 

    To further explain, it took me around 2 hours to sit down to write this blog piece. In those 2 hours, I rotted away in my bed scrolling on Instagram Reels, wasting a couple of precious hours of my life that are sure to add up from consistent repetition. Although I was aware of the fact that procrastinating and pushing off my work for later was going to be detrimental to my sleep schedule/the preservation of my circadian rhythm and my productivity, my desire for entertainment and enjoyment outweighed these potential drawbacks. 

    Additionally, in a more severe case, drug addiction is a typical circumstance that can be attributed to this desire to do things despite them being harmful and detrimental. People have an unhinged craving for momentary satisfaction. It is this longing feeling that strengthens to form an addiction and thus an unhealthy dependence on something. Humans cannot seem to let this dependence go and let our moral judgment guide us, instead being blinded by gratification and brief moments of contentment that is strengthened by addiction.