Weakness of Will Is Not a Biological Condition
The article critiques the medicalization of human behavior, arguing against framing weight regain after stopping medication as a biological inevitability rather than a matter of personal responsibility. The author contends that language like 'regain' reflects deeper philosophical assumptions about human agency and moral accountability. He emphasizes that while biology influences behavior, it does not fully determine it, and overcoming weakness of will remains a meaningful human endeavor.
- ▪The authors of a letter to the British Medical Journal objected to the term 'regain' when describing weight increase after stopping medication, viewing it as stigmatizing.
- ▪Theodore Dalrymple argues that describing human behavior solely through biology overlooks personal responsibility and moral agency.
- ▪He illustrates his point with a neighbor who reversed Type 2 diabetes through dietary changes, suggesting such efforts deserve praise.
- ▪Dalrymple warns against viewing humans as 'physiological automata,' noting that good behavior is rarely reduced to biology in public discourse.
- ▪He acknowledges mitigating factors in behavior but highlights an asymmetry in how society attributes cause to bad versus good actions.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Takimag Weakness of Will Is Not a Biological Condition The medicalization of human nature has unwelcome consequences. TakiMag (Photo by Joe Martinez for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Theodore Dalrymple May 3, 2026 12:03 AM Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... There is nothing more important than the trivial, as Sherlock Holmes well knew. The smallest indications often (though not always) have the widest implications. One should always be on the lookout for deeper significance while, of course, guarding against paranoia and the siren song of conspiracy theory. There are perhaps few things more trivial than letters to the British Medical Journal, but they sometimes suggest something important.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The American Conservative.
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