Defending an Ability Analysis of Control

Abstract

In this chapter, a defence of the ability analysis of control proposed in chapter six is offered. The chapter begins by outlining some advantages of the analysis; briefly, not only does it explain the deep connection that appears to exist between freedom, moral responsibility, and the ability to do otherwise, it captures our judgements regarding moral responsibility in a wide range of tricky cases. The chapter then examines how to understand the ‘ceteris paribus’ clause in the ability analysis of control, and defends the proposed asymmetry between praise and blameworthy actions. By so doing, the chapter also ties the previous discussion of control more overtly to issues regarding moral responsibility.