Aspiration

1. Aspiration is a distinct form of agency aimed at acquiring new values

Aspiration, as I understand it, is the distinctive form of agency directed at the acquisition of values.

Value acquisition process. Aspiration is not merely a decision or a passive transformation, but a deliberate and extended process of acquiring new values. This process involves:

• Recognizing a deficiency in one's current values
• Working towards appreciating and embodying new values
• Engaging in activities that gradually develop new preferences and interests

Distinction from other forms of agency. Aspiration differs from:

• Self-cultivation: which develops existing values
• Ambition: which pursues goals based on current values
• Passive transformation: where change occurs without intentional effort

Aspirants act with incomplete knowledge of their end goal, guided by an evolving understanding of the value they seek to acquire. This unique characteristic sets aspiration apart as a form of agency that bridges present limitations and future potentials.

2. Proleptic reasons guide aspirational pursuits, bridging present and future selves

Proleptic reasons are provisional in a way that reflects the provisionality of the agent's own knowledge and development: her inchoate, anticipatory, and indirect grasp of some good she is trying to know better.

Dual nature of proleptic reasons. Proleptic reasons have two faces:

1. Proximate: reflecting current motivations and understanding
2. Distal: anticipating future values and perspectives

Rationality of aspiration. Traditional decision theory struggles to account for aspirational pursuits because:

• It assumes fixed preferences
• It requires clear knowledge of outcomes

Proleptic reasons allow for rational action towards values not yet fully grasped. They explain how aspirants can act rationally while acknowledging the incompleteness of their current understanding.

Learning process. Aspiration is a form of practical learning where:

• The agent acts to acquire knowledge of value
• Actions are guided by an evolving grasp of the target value
• The full justification for actions may only become clear at the end of the process

3. Intrinsic conflicts arise when values clash, requiring resolution through aspiration

Intrinsic conflicts are resolved by aspiration. Aspiration is the diachronic process by which an agent effects change on her own ethical point of view.

Nature of intrinsic conflicts. Intrinsic conflicts occur when:

• An agent holds incompatible values or evaluative perspectives
• These values cannot be reconciled through deliberation
• The agent cannot fully inhabit both perspectives simultaneously

Limitations of deliberation. Traditional deliberation fails to resolve intrinsic conflicts because:

• It requires a unified evaluative standpoint
• Intrinsic conflicts divide the agent's evaluative perspective

Aspirational resolution. Aspiration resolves intrinsic conflicts by:

• Gradually shifting the agent's evaluative perspective
• Working towards a more coherent set of values
• Allowing for the development of new ways of seeing and valuing

This process is not instantaneous but unfolds over time as the agent works to transform their ethical outlook.

4. Akrasia reveals the complexity of our value systems and the need for aspirational change

Akratics act from a grasp of value, however partial. Aspirants act toward a grasp of value.

Reinterpreting akrasia. Akrasia (weakness of will) is best understood as:

• A manifestation of intrinsic conflict
• Acting from a subordinate evaluative perspective
• Not merely acting against one's better judgment

Akrasia vs. aspiration. The key difference:

• Akratics act from their current, conflicted value system
• Aspirants work to change their value system

Implications for self-understanding. Recognizing akrasia as intrinsic conflict:

• Reveals the complexity of our motivational structures
• Highlights the potential for aspirational change
• Shows that resolving deep-seated conflicts requires more than just willpower

Understanding akrasia in this way points to the need for aspirational efforts to resolve fundamental value conflicts and achieve greater coherence in our ethical outlooks.

5. Self-creation through aspiration challenges traditional notions of character formation

Aspiration is that form of agency in which one acts upon oneself to create a self with substantively new values.

Limitations of traditional models. Two common models of self-creation fall short:

1. Self-endorsement: Can't explain acquisition of genuinely new values
2. Self-cultivation: Faces a regress problem in explaining the origin of values

Aspirational self-creation. The aspirational model proposes that:

• The created self (S2) is normatively prior to the creating self (S1)
• S1 looks up to and tries to understand S2, rather than controlling or shaping it
• This reversal avoids the regress problem and explains genuine value acquisition

Teleological agency. Aspirational self-creation involves:

• Acting towards a future self not yet fully understood
• Guided by an evolving grasp of the values of that future self
• A form of agency that doesn't fit neatly into traditional action theory

This model explains how we can create ourselves in ways that go beyond our current values and understanding.

6. Moral responsibility for character stems from our aspirational efforts or lack thereof

We are responsible for good ways that we are to the degree that we aspired to be in those ways, and bad ones to the degree that we culpably failed to aspire to be better.

Asymmetrical account of responsibility. This view proposes that:

• We are responsible for good character traits we acquire through aspiration
• We are responsible for bad character traits due to culpable failure to aspire

Factors affecting responsibility. The degree of responsibility depends on:

• The extent of our aspirational efforts
• Environmental factors that support or hinder aspiration
• Our access to resources and guidance for self-improvement

Implications for blame and praise. This account:

• Explains why we mitigate blame for those with severely deprived backgrounds
• Justifies greater praise for those who overcome significant obstacles
• Maintains a role for personal responsibility while acknowledging external factors

This nuanced view of responsibility acknowledges both personal agency and environmental influences in character formation.

7. Aspiration is a social process, requiring support and guidance from others

Aspirants do the work of becoming new people, but they cannot typically do this work alone.

Social nature of aspiration. Aspiration depends on:

• Teachers, mentors, and role models
• Supportive environments that encourage growth
• Access to communities that embody the target values

Implications for understanding responsibility. This social aspect:

• Explains why isolation can impede moral development
• Highlights the importance of educational and social institutions
• Suggests a collective responsibility for creating conditions that support aspiration

Personal and social dimensions. Successful aspiration involves:

• Individual effort and commitment
• Openness to guidance and influence from others
• Participation in practices and communities that embody target values

Recognizing the social nature of aspiration underscores the importance of creating supportive environments for personal growth and moral development.

Last updated: November 8, 2024