Word: Akrasia
Prounciation: Uh, craze, eee, uh OR uh, crez, ee, uh
Definition: Akrasia is the state of mind in which you act against your own better judgement because of "weakness of will".
Etymology: From Greek a- (without) and kratos (power)
Frequency: About 1 in 12,000,000 words.
Why use it: First, it's a word for an entire state of mind - one that lots of us have felt; it's the "I couldn't help myself" feeling. But you can say "I was akrastic". Sounds so much better. Second, it's useful in philosophy because it raises interesting questions about deliberation and choice and free will and so on.
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