Finking Frankfurt
Philosophical Studies, 2007
8 Pages Posted: 21 Sep 2013
Date Written: 2007
Abstract
Michael Smith has resisted Harry Frankfurt's claim that moral responsibility does not require the ability to have done otherwise. He does this by claiming that, in Frankfurt cases, the ability to do otherwise is indeed present, but is a disposition that has been 'finked' or masked by other factors. We suggest that, while Smith's account appears to work for some classic Frankfurt cases, it does not work for all. In particular, Smith cannot explain cases, such as the Willing Addict, where the Frankfurt devise - e.g. the addiction - is intrinsic to the agent.
Keywords: Moral responsibility, Harry Frankfurt, rational capacities, dispositions, counterfactuals
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation