PHIL 100 Lecture Notes - Counterexample
17 Sep 2013
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The principle of alternate possibilities and frankfurt"s counterexample. The principle of alternate possibilities (pap): a person, s, is morally responsible for doing something only if s could have done otherwise than do it. Suppose someone -- black, let us say -- wants jones to perform a certain action. Black is prepared to go to considerable lengths to get his way, but he prefers to avoid showing his hand unnecessarily. If it does become clear that jones is going to decide to do something else, black takes effective steps to ensure that jones decides to do, and that he does do, what he wants him to do. Whatever jones"s initial preferences and inclinations, then, black will have his way. What steps will black take, if he believes he must take steps, in order to ensure that.
