Metaphysics Novy SP08

Handout for Dennett’s “I could not have done otherwise: so what?”

Claim: “it simply does not matter at all to moral responsibility whether the agent in question could have done otherwise in the circumstances”

1. CDO
1.  metaphysical
2.  local fatalism

2. Ordinary assignment of praise/blame
1. No appeal to metaphysical CDO
2. Local fatalism is relevant
3. Local fatalism is neutral with respect to determinism

i. Determinism does not mean absence of CDO

ii. Lottery ticket example

iii. Duplication 

3. Martin Luther: “Here I stand; I can do no other” 
1. Suppose Luther was literally right. Given his character and motives, he could not then and there have done otherwise.

i. Not disowning responsibility for his act; rather,

ii. Taking full responsibility

iii. \CDO not required for moral responsibility

2. Moral Zombie?
3. Self-forming Choices

4. If metaphysical CDO were relevant to moral responsibility,
1. we couldn't know whether I'm responsible or not

5. The significance of knowing metaphysical CDO about a subject is nil:
1. If determined, little chance of ever being in same situation & psychological state again
2. If not determined, no reason to believe one shows more or less subtlety, flexibility, etc. as a determined subject.

6. What else might we mean by asking “Could X have done otherwise?” 
1. Deterministic robot: is there a design flaw which to be corrected?
2. For people is there a character flaw which should be corrected?