| Phi 109-02 Fall 2015 |
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Although Frankfurt is no less clear in this article than in the first one, the structure is a little more complex, so let me alert you to a couple of things. In particular, while Frankfurt makes quite a number of points in this article, there are three that are especially important for our purposes.
• One is his account of what the will is. This is stated in section I, but there is important preparatory discussion also in the unnumbered introductory section.
• While his account of what a “person” is in section II is less directly important for us, the example of the two addicts on pp. 203f is important for understanding his general perspective.
• The second key point for us appears in section III, where he offers an account of what it is for one’s will to be free. Notice that he distinguishes this from freedom of action.
• The final section IV has the third of his key points for our purposes, his discussion of the relation of freedom of will and moral responsibility.
Frankfurt doesn’t give much attention to possible objections to his view, but he does note briefly one alternative view of the will on p. 209. You might think also how Williams’ character Frederick would respond to Frankfurt.