Philosophy - Exam 3

Freedom of action

The freedom to do what you will/want

Freedom of will

The freedom to do what you want AND the freedom to do will what you will

First-order desires

Your desires to do things

Second-order desires

Your desires to desire things

Ultimate Moral Responsibility

A person can be ultimately responsibile for their actions in such a way that it MAKES SENSE for them to receive praise or blame/punishment for them.

Someone has ultimately responsible for an action if:

1. They are the true origin of that action (causa sui)

2. They could have done otherwise (it was genuinely up to them)

Desires

The wants/urges/etc. you simply have. You’re stuck with these things

Values

The wants/urges/etc. that are also evaluative commitments you endorse after reflection

Free agency

The ability to act in accordance with your values

Factual ignorance

Ignorance of the facts of some case, like not knowing where something is or how something works

Moral ignorance

Ignorance of what is the right or wrong thing to do

Wolf’s view on the Jojo case

Jojo is not responsible because he is insane

Strawson’s view on the Jojo case

Jojo is not responsible because he didn’t make himself the person he is

Arpaly’s view on the Jojo case

Jojo is responsible because he is motivated poorly (he acts from very bad character and values)

Deep-Self view

One is morally responsible when their actions reflect their ‘deeper self’

Frankfurt’s theory of free action

Freedom of action requires that one’s will aligns with their higher-order desires, theoretically making them MR

Watson’s theory of free action

When one can be motivated by values rather than strongest desires, they act freely, theoretically making them MR

Wolf’s Sane Deep Self View

You’re morally responsible if you act in line with your deep self and your deep self is sane.

Singer’s principle

If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything at big cost, we ought to do it.

Drowning child and global suffering

Walking past a child drowning in the pond, we ought to not hesitate and save it, getting our clothes muddy, which isn’t significant.

This applies to global suffering, if we are able to prevent death or suffering without comparable loss, we must do so.