Instrumental rationality in psychopathy: implications from learning tasks

Philosophical Psychology 29 (5):717-731 (2016)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The issue whether psychopathic offenders are practically rational has attracted philosophical attention. The problem is relevant in theoretical discussions on moral psychology and in those concerning the appropriate social response to the crimes of these individuals. We argue that classical and current experiments concerning the instrumental learning in psychopaths cannot directly support the conclusion that they have impaired instrumental rationality, construed as the ability for transferring the motivation by means-ends reasoning. In fact, we defend the different claim that these experiments appear to show that psychopaths in certain circumstances are not aware of the relevant means for their ends. Moreover, we suggest how further empirical research could help to settle the issue.

Similar books and articles

The Myth of Instrumental Rationality.Joseph Raz - 2005 - Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy 1 (1):28.
Epistemic rationality as instrumental rationality: A critique.Thomas Kelly - 2003 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 66 (3):612–640.
Instrumental rationality.Ralph Wedgwood - 2011 - Oxford Studies in Metaethics 6:280-309.
The Varieties of Instrumental Rationality.Stephen Ellis - 2008 - Southern Journal of Philosophy 46 (2):199-220.
Intention, belief, and instrumental rationality.Michael Bratman - 2009 - In David Sobel & Steven Wall (eds.), Reasons for Action. Cambridge University Press. pp. 13--36.
Instrumental rationality, symmetry and scope.John Brunero - 2012 - Philosophical Studies 157 (1):125-140.
The instrumental rationality of addiction.Hanna Pickard - 2011 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 34 (6):320-321.
Instrumental Rationality.Markos Valaris - 2012 - European Journal of Philosophy 20 (4):443-462.
Instrumentally Rational Myopic Planning.Chrisoula Andreou - 2004 - Philosophical Papers 33 (2):133-145.
Instrumental rules and motivation.Antony Hatzistavrou - 2006 - Legal Theory 12 (4):315-345.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-11-04

Downloads
883 (#14,870)

6 months
202 (#11,074)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author Profiles

Luca Malatesti
University of Rijeka
Marko Jurjako
University of Rijeka