In his seminal paper alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, frankfurt argues against the principle of alternate possibilities pap, according to which a person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, journal of philosophy 66, 828839. We would, of course, consistent with the position taken on war, grant to aryans the right to wage the war of extermination of the jews, provided of course that the pogrom be declared by the duly. It has recently been argued that the principle that ought implies can entails the principle that moral responsibility requires alternate possibilities, and hence that the acceptance of the former principle requires acceptance of the latter. Frankfurt on ought implies can and alternate possibilities. On the revised principle of alternate possibilities, the. Frankfurtstyle examples introduction we tend to think of ourselves. For example, john martin fischers semicompatibilism assumes with frankfurt that we can have moral responsibility, even if determinism andor indeterminism are incompatible with free will. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility authors. The principle of alternate possibilities as sufficient but not necessary for moral responsibility. Harry frankfurt thinks even though the requirement of alternative possibilities in order to be held morally responsible for our actions seems intuitively plausible, it is a questionable premise in the argument provided by incompatibilists.
Eliot, four quartets few arguments in contemporary philosophy have had more influence than harry frankfurts. Essays on moral responsibility and alternative possibilities. Feb 27, 2016 the aim of this paper is to present a version of the principle of alternate possibilities pap which is not susceptible to the frankfurt style counterexample. P2 if determinism is true, then we could not have acted otherwise.
Frankfurts case doesnt quite show this much, if it succeeds. I propose to develop some ex amples of this kind in the context of a discussion of coercion and to suggest that our moral intuitions concerning these examples tend to disconfirm the principle of alternate possibilities. Pdf on the signpost principle of alternate possibilities. Intro alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. The problem of alternate possibilities and moral responsibility is one that philosophers continue to pursue, and understanding this issue is important for understanding our moral assessments of people and their actions. Problem of moral responsibility, the problem of reconciling the belief that people are morally responsible for what they do with the apparent fact that humans do not have free will because their actions are causally determined. A dilemma for frankfurtstyle cases, and the definition of robustness by jaclyn genchi august 2006. Freedom foreknowledge and the principle of alternate. Harry frankfurts 1969 paper alternate possibilities and moral responsibility purports to refute the principle of alternate possibilities pap that a person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise 829.
Frankfurts thesis the principle of alternate possibilities pap that a person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise. The epistemic principle of alternative possibilities by. The principle of alternate possibilities a person is morally responsible for what they do only if they could have done otherwise if we accept this, are we committed to believing that moral responsibility and determinism are incompatible. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility word. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, where in an agent. Contrary to what the hard determinists argue, many philosophers believe that determinism is compatible with free will. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility next article.
Moral responsibility, freedom, and alternate possibilities. Dominant role in nearly all recent inquiries into the. Frankfurts case turns on an equivocation between alternate possibilities and alternate outcomes. The near necessity of alternate possibilities for moral. Well also cover frankfurt cases and patricia churchlands rejection of the freeornotfree dichotomy and her focus on. It argued against pap, and thus against the traditional view of freedom.
There might be some other reason for which determinism undercuts our ordinary moral practices. A compatibilist theory of alternative possibilities. In alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, harry frankfurt attempts to falsify the principle of alternate possibilities. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility alternativne mogucnosti i moralna odgovornost h. Pdf the principle of alternate possibilities as sufficient. Ill begin with some definitions, then summarise the main argument of the paper, and then discuss some of the responses to it.
Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility 829 approached this subject with medieval language and modern skill. Moral responsibility and harry frankfurt 1286 words 5 pages. I argue that pap does not need to be endorsed as a necessary condition for moral responsibility. Frankfurt wants to argue that the principle of alternate possibilities hereafter. I contend that moral responsibility requires an agent to have full control of her actions, to be the author of what she is praiseworthy or blameworthy for. As an alternative, then, ayer tries to tie moral responsibility to a different sort of freedom. Frankfurtstyle cases fscs are modeled after a case in harry frankfurts. Pdf defending the principle of alternate possibilities. Moreover, the claim that responsibility requires freedom applies even to such situations. Jones will bear precisely the same moral responsibility for what he does as he would have borne if. Here, frankfurt presents the act of being able to do otherwise as a necessary condition for the ascription of moral responsibility. In an influential article, harry frankfurt 1969 dubbed this. Moral responsibility and alternative possibilities 1st edition.
Frankfurt cases the principle of alternate possibilities. For example, john martin fischers semicompatibilism assumes with frankfurt that we can have moral responsibility, even if determinism and or indeterminism are incompatible with free will. Obligation, responsibility and alternate possibilities. C if determinism is true, then we do not act freely. A way to avoid the frankfurt counterexample article pdf available in philosophia 443. Frankfurt alternative possibilities and moral responsibility here is an in.
The principle of alternate possi bilities may in this way derive some credibility from its association with the very plausible proposition that moral responsibility is ex cluded by coercion. Frankfurt alternate possibilities and moral responsibility handout. P1 you act freely only if you could have acted otherwise. In frankfurts conclusion he states that, the principle of alternate possibilities should thus be replaced, in my opinion, by the following principle. Frankfurt, freedom of the will and the concept of a person thomas nagel, moral luck jeremy bentham, the principle of utility. Frankfurt cases also known as frankfurt counterexamples or frankfurt style cases were presented by philosopher harry frankfurt in 1969 as counterexamples to the principle of alternate possibilities pap, which holds that an agent is morally responsible for an action only if that person could have done otherwise.
Frankfurts main concern was moral responsibility, but his argument can easily be. Suppose that john is on his way to a voting booth and. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility mit. Freedom foreknowledge and the principle of alternate possibilities. Ethics handout 24 harry frankfurt, alternate possibilities. The principle of alternate possibilities as sufficient but. A person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise frankfurt 1969, p. Frankfurt, the importance of what we care about cambridge.
Today im going to talk about harry frankfurts 1969 paper alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. Moral responsibility alternate possibilities and moral responsibility 1969 learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. The principle of alternate possibilities as sufficient but not. Folk intuitions about free will and moral responsibility. Libertarianism and frankfurts attack on the principle of alternative possibilities maria alvarez 2009. Harry frankfurt, alternate possibilities and moral responsibility plato kant thesis. Since then, frankfurt s thesis has been at the center of philosophical discussions on free will and moral responsibility. The chapter presents objections to frankfurts case. A theoretical argument against the principle of alternate. So, if it turns out that all of our actions are determined, and. But the principle of alternate possibilities is false. Harry frankfurt and the principle of alternate possibilities feb 5 feb 7 harry frankfurt 1969. Moral responsibility, freedom, and alternate possibilities by uncg. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility 83i being unable to do otherwise.
It is the claim that freedom requires avoidabil ity that is to be rejected. The chapter presents objections to frankfurt s case. Frankfurt seeks to challenge the principle of alternate possibilities pap by stating that causal determinism is perfectly compatible with moral responsibility, and that the rejection of pap would appear to help people make philosophical progress. David widerker, frankfurt on ought implies can and alternative possibilities, analysis 51 1991 2224. You are morally responsible for an action only if you could have acted otherwise. In his 1969 essay alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, harry. Jones will bear precisely the same moral responsibility for what he does as he would have borne if black had not been ready to take steps to ensure that he do it. Suppose that john is on his way to a voting booth and is undecided about whether to vote for.
Access to this document requires a subscription or membership. Frankfurt, alternate possibilities and moral responsibility john martin fischer, responsiveness and moral responsibility harry g. Strictly, it only shows that determinism wouldnt undercut our moral practices because determinism rules out alternate possibilities. Defending alternative possibilities philosophy in action. So responsibility and alternative possibilities go together after all, and pap would remain truemoral responsibility requires alternative possibilitieswhen free choices are not determined. Frankfurt cases also known as frankfurt counterexamples or frankfurtstyle cases were presented by philosopher harry frankfurt in 1969 as counterexamples to the principle of alternate possibilities pap, which holds that an agent is morally responsible for an action only if that person could have done otherwise. Pdf alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility harry g. Frankfurt, alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, journal of philosophy 66 1969 82939. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility ucl. Moral responsibility and alternative possibilities, edited by david widerker and michael mckenna, draws together the most recent work on frankfurt s thesis by leading theorists in the area of free will and responsibility.
Harry frankfurts paper alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. On the revised principle of alternate possibilities on the revised principle of alternate possibilities glannon, walter 19940301 00. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility paper. A dilemma for frankfurtstyle cases, and the definition of robustness by. Frankfurt cases, alternate possibilities, and prior signs jstor. Abstract in his seminal paper alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. It is an ancient and enduring philosophical puzzle. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility david widerker 1995. So responsibility and alternative possibilities go together after all, and pap would remain true moral responsibility requires alternative possibilities when free choices are not determined. In frankfurts original formulation, that principle is 1pap a person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise. Harry frankfurt argues against the principle of alternate. Frankfurt presents as an example of moral responsibility without alternate possibilities might rather be thought of directly as an example of free will. Frankfurt, alternate possibilities and moral responsibility, journal of philosophy 66 1969. He is professor emeritus of philosophy at princeton university, where he taught from 1990 until 2002, and previously taught at yale university, rockefeller university, and ohio state university.
Harry gordon frankfurt born may 29, 1929 is an american philosopher. Frankfurt on ought implies can and alternative possibilities. So, if it turns out that all of our actions are determined, and we can never do otherwise, we are still free, nevertheless. Weekly discussion moral responsibility and alternative. Sep 29, 2007 harry frankfurt has famously criticized the principle of alternate possibilitiesthe principle that an agent is morally responsible for performing some action only if able to have done otherwise than to perform iton the grounds that it is possible for an agent to be morally responsible for performing an action that is inevitable for the agent when the reasons for which the agent lacks. Frankfurt princeton university abstract this essay challenges the widely accepted principle that a person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise. The principles plausibility is an illusion, which can be made to vanish by bringing the relevant moral phenomena into sharper focus. Sep 22, 2014 whether these possibilities are genuine, or whether they are robust enough to ground moral responsibility, is open to question. Harry frankfurts paper alternate possibilities and moral responsibility frankfurt 1969 radically changed the shape of the debate between compatibilists and incompatibilists.
Pdf frankfurt alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. Harry frankfurt describes the principle of alternate possibilities pap as follows. A person may well be morally responsible for what he has done even though he could not have done otherwise. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility paper by. Frankfurt, alternate possibilities and moral responsibility.
In an influential paper, alternate possibilities and moral responsibility 1969, the american philosopher harry frankfurt questioned whether the ability to do otherwise is truly necessary for freedom. Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility by harry. Frankfurt, freedom of the will and the concept of a person. Alternate possibilities and moral responsiblity1 in that famous paper frankfurt. Frankfurt alternative possibilities and moral responsibility. The principle of alternate possibilities is the principle where a person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise. Harry frankfurt has famously criticized the principle of alternate possibilitiesthe principle that an agent is morally responsible for performing some action only if able to have done otherwise than to perform iton the grounds that it is possible for an agent to be morally responsible for performing an action that is inevitable for the agent when the reasons for which. Moral responsibility and alternative possibilities.
304 1050 38 931 1055 877 560 1164 1054 306 725 890 537 697 1032 752 927 309 1464 766 226 378 407 893 841 331 412 1122 326 1009 1388 1204 111 1234 791 470 716 448 1259 1393 1006 1270 1024 935