The importance of being Ernie. (12th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Herdova, Marcela
• Is Part Of: Thought. Volume 10:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 257
• Page End: 263
• Publication Date: 2021-09-12
• Subjects: free will -- manipulation -- responsibility -- tool -- zygote argument; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Logic -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Theory of -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1002/tht3.503
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2161-2234

Abstract

Abstract: Alfred Mele presents an influential argument for incompatibilism which compares an agent, Ernie, whose life has been carefully planned by the goddess Diana, to normal deterministic agents. The argument suggests both that Ernie is not free, and that there is no relevant difference between him and normal deterministic agents in respect of free will. In this paper, I suggest that what drives our judgement that Ernie is not free in the Diana case is that his actions are merely an extension of Diana's—he is akin to a tool, which she uses solely for her own purposes, and his behaviour occurs only because of the interest Diana takes in its occurring. This contrasts with normal deterministic universes, in which normal agents are not such tools.