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Moral Responsibility, Frankfurt-Style Cases, and Alternative Possibilities

Shatsky, Adam
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1466956440

Abstract Details

2016, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Philosophy.
It is widely accepted that persons are morally responsible for what they have done only if they could have done otherwise. This is known as the Principle of Alternative Possibilities (PAP). In this thesis, I defend PAP against one main line of attack, which comes from a putative counterexample constructed by Harry Frankfurt. In his seminal article, Frankfurt (1969) argues that there are cases in which agents are morally responsible for an action, and yet they could not have done otherwise. I argue that there is still a sense––namely, the so called flicker of freedom––in which agents can do otherwise, despite Frankfurt-style cases. By strengthening the flicker of freedom defense, I argue that Frankfurt’s challenge (as well as others’ developed in the same vein as Frankfurt, known as Frankfurt-style cases) are unsuccessful in undermining the view that moral responsibility requires the ability to do otherwise.
Michael Byron (Advisor)
71 p.
Philosophy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shatsky, A. (2016). Moral Responsibility, Frankfurt-Style Cases, and Alternative Possibilities [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1466956440

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shatsky, Adam. Moral Responsibility, Frankfurt-Style Cases, and Alternative Possibilities . 2016. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1466956440.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shatsky, Adam. "Moral Responsibility, Frankfurt-Style Cases, and Alternative Possibilities ." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1466956440

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1466956440
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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.