Knowing yourself—and giving up on your own agency in the process
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Australasian Journal of Philosophy
Publication Date
12-1-2012
Volume
90
Issue
4
First Page
641
Last Page
656
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
Are there cases in which agents ought to give up on satisfying an obligation, so that they can avoid a temptation which will lead them to freely commit an even more significant wrong? Actualists say yes. Possibilists say no. Both positions have absurd consequences. This paper argues that common-sense morality is committed to an inconsistent triad of principles. This inconsistency becomes acute when we consider the cases that motivate the possibilism–actualism debate. Thus, the absurd consequences of both solutions are unsurprising: any proposed solution will have consequences incompatible with common moral practice. Arguments for denying one of the principles are considered and rejected. The paper then suggests that the inconsistent moral commitments originate in an inconsistent picture of human agency. Revisionary pictures of human agency are considered. It is argued that a quasi-Platonic picture of agency, similar to that advocated by Gary Watson 1977, is the most promising.
DOI
10.1080/00048402.2011.617761
Print ISSN
00048402
E-ISSN
14716828
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2012 Australasian Association of Philosophy
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Baker, D. C. (2012). Knowing yourself—and giving up on your own agency in the process. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 90(4), 641-656. doi: 10.1080/00048402.2011.617761