Sentimental fools: A critique of Amartya Sen's notion of commitment

Commitment is problematic because one sometimes pursues it against one's interest. To solve it, the paper proposes a distinction between 'non-binding' and 'binding' commitments. Non-binding commitment is about ambition, such as becoming a great chef, which bolsters welfare in the pecuniary sense as well as self-respect. In contrast, 'binding commitment' is about honesty. While it diminishes welfare, it augments self-integrity. The neoclassical view reduces both commitments to interest, while the multiple-self approach separates both commitments from interest. The separation permits the confusion of sentimental fools, who enter commitments without regard to interest, with rational sentimentalists, who take interest into consideration.