The Free Will Show

Episode 71: The Principle of Alternative Possibilities with Justin Capes

Jan 15, 2024
Justin Capes, an associate professor of philosophy and author of 'Moral Responsibility and the Flicker of Freedom', delves into the principle of alternative possibilities, clarifying its role in moral accountability. He discusses Frankfurt cases, challenging traditional views and introducing his fine-grained flicker of freedom response. Justin argues that moral analysis is more crucial than metaphysics and highlights how his interpretations confirm the principle. Listeners gain insights into the complexities of free will and responsibility in a thought-provoking dialogue.
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ANECDOTE

Childhood Memory Sparked Free Will Interest

  • Justin Capes recounts a childhood Sunday school memory where a pastor claimed God chooses destinies, which disturbed him.
  • That experience motivated his lifelong interest in free will and fairness in moral responsibility.
INSIGHT

Precise Formulation Of PAP

  • Capes defines PAP as: you're morally accountable only if you could have done otherwise, meaning ability plus opportunity.
  • He emphasizes PAP targets moral accountability (deserving praise/blame) and serves as a determinant of responsibility.
INSIGHT

Structure Of Frankfurt Cases

  • Frankfurt cases present agents who seem responsible despite having no genuine alternatives due to a hypothetical intervener.
  • These cases aim to show PAP fails by making actions unavoidable without causal manipulation.
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