It seems to me that much of our ethical discussion focusses on moments of crisis and decision, when the bulk of our lives are lived in that curious half-light of the will - habit. We have habits because we have bodies: habits are patterns of behaviour which we repeat regularly without having to think about them consciously. Our bodies like them, and we just do them. I don't consciously choose to have toast and jam with strong coffee for breakfast each morning: and yet, there we go, I do it. Am I responsible for my choice? Yes of course. And yet, I am not conscious of choosing or deciding anything much. So, yes, I do will it; but, only out of a kind of dream-state of the will.
This is not a blog-as-confessional: but I do have one bad habit I will share. I chew paper. I have done it for a while now. White A4 is best. As I am sitting working and trying to concentrate I feel the urge to chew, and not having gum around, paper stands in its place. Actually, I prefer the texture and taste of paper. It is weird how this has become habitual, to the point that I am not even really aware of deciding to do it. And yet, breaking out of a habit even as stupid as this requires a huge amount of will power.
It is because habits involve a kind of shutting down of the will that they feature so little in ethical discussion I think. Somehow, an act perfomed habitually is not as morally upright as the one which involves a more conscious decsion to do the right thing....
