Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Frankfurt-style cases show that an agent can be unable to do otherwise yet still acts, meaning ability and possible-world performance can come apart under manipulation.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Frankfurt's device cases are metaphysically incoherent: a counterfactual intervener that monitors and perfectly predicts decisions seems to require backwards causation or violations of determinism.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Even if an agent acts the same way, the relevant ability question is whether they could have done otherwise *given the actual causal history*, not just possible-world variants.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Blaming an agent who literally cannot do otherwise conflates holding responsible with deserving blame; responsibility may require actual alternatives as a fair precondition.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Frankfurt cases isolate inability from wrongdoing: an agent acts badly despite having no alternative, suggesting moral responsibility doesn't require alternative possibilities.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Manipulative scenarios reveal our actual moral intuitions: we blame the manipulated agent for their action, not for lacking alternatives, supporting Frankfurt's conclusion.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Modal facts (what's possible) and causal facts (what actually happens) are metaphysically distinct; manipulation can alter possibilities without changing what the agent does.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.