Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
Completing grad school, staying married, getting in shape, learning an instrument, and maintaining religious commitment all require something difficult: staying committed over time.
But when is that kind of commitment rational? And when should we give it up?
In this talk, I explore the roles of belief, faith, and hope in rational commitment. I argue that all three attitudes can help justify long-term action, even in the face of counterevidence, uncertainty, or waning motivation.
I also discuss two models of rational action and explain how they help illuminate perseverance, trust, and commitment over time.
This paper was presented at the World Congress of Philosophy in 2018 and later published in Mind. You can download it for free here: philpapers.org/rec/JACBFA
0:00 Talk
30:45 Q&A
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Check out my website: liz-jackson.com
For more on my research: liz-jackson.com/research
For popular-level interviews, podcasts, and blog posts I’ve done: http://liz-jackson.com/public-philoso...
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/lizjackson111
Instagram: instagram.com/lizjackson111
Facebook: facebook.com/lizjackson111
Completing grad school, staying married, getting in shape, learning an instrument, and maintaining religious commitment all require something difficult: staying committed over time.
But when is that kind of commitment rational? And when should we give it up?
In this talk, I explore the roles of belief, faith, and hope in rational commitment. I argue that all three attitudes can help justify long-term action, even in the face of counterevidence, uncertainty, or waning motivation.
I also discuss two models of rational action and explain how they help illuminate perseverance, trust, and commitment over time.
This paper was presented at the World Congress of Philosophy in 2018 and later published in Mind. You can download it for free here: philpapers.org/rec/JACBFA
0:00 Talk
30:45 Q&A
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my website: liz-jackson.com
For more on my research: liz-jackson.com/research
For popular-level interviews, podcasts, and blog posts I’ve done: http://liz-jackson.com/public-philoso...
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/lizjackson111
Instagram: instagram.com/lizjackson111
Facebook: facebook.com/lizjackson111
