Frankfurt — Acting for one’s own reasons without alternatives
The question that opens it
If an intervener could block every alternative but never touches the actual decision, does the absence of alternatives remove responsibility?
- 1
The Principle of Alternative Possibilities says a person is morally responsible only if they could have done otherwise.
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This is an evidence-linked editorial account, not a direct quotation.
Moral Responsibility and the Principle of Alternative Possibilities
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: Introduction; Principle of Alternative Possibilities
Open source
- 2
Frankfurt-style cases argue for responsibility without alternatives, but objections continue over residual flickers of freedom and whether the cases presuppose determinism.
Check the evidence
This is an evidence-linked editorial account, not a direct quotation.
Moral Responsibility and the Principle of Alternative Possibilities
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Locator: §3.4.3 Frankfurt-Style Cases; §4 Objections
Open source