Date of Award
8-11-2015
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Jessica Berry
Second Advisor
Tim O'Keefe
Third Advisor
Eddy Nahmias
Fourth Advisor
Sandra Dwyer
Abstract
Aristotle says that we are responsible (αἴτιοι) for our voluntary actions and character. But there’s a question about whether he thinks we are morally responsible and, if so, what he thinks makes it such that we are. Interpretations of Aristotle on this question range from libertarian, according to which Aristotle considers us morally responsible in part because we have undetermined choices, to deflationary, according to which Aristotle has no theory of moral responsibility. Despite putative evidence to the contrary, neither interpretation captures Aristotle’s view on the matter, and their rejection paves the way for a compatibilist proposal, one that works both as an interpretation of Aristotle and as an independently attractive view. I detail this view and defend it against one prominent objection.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/7197036
Recommended Citation
Daigle, Jennifer, "Aristotle, Determinism, and Moral Responsibility." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2015.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/7197036