Strawson (vs Strawson) on Free Will - Partially Examined Life

On P.F. Strawson’s “Freedom and Resentment” (1960), Galen Strawson’s “The Impossibility of Moral Responsibility” (1994), and Gary Watson’s “Responsibility and the Limits of Evil: Variations on a Strawsonian Theme” (1987).

Do we ordinarily act with the right kind of freedom so that blame is justified? Galen Strawson says no: our choices stem from our character, which is not something we chose (or if we did choose a path to having that character, that prior choice wasn’t the result of another choice, etc.). Galen’s father P.F. Strawson said that blame and resentment are essential parts of our social attitudes and aren’t really open to philosophical critique, no matter what you think about determinism.

Mark, Wes, and Seth are joined by Tamler Sommers of the U. of Houston and Very Bad Wizards podcast, who tries to convince us that ole’ P.F. was right. Well Pffff to that! #Strawson #Freewill #Freedom #Resentment #Sommers #Tamler Go to the blog: http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2014/05/02/ep93-strawson-free-will/