Abstract:
The debate about free will has for many decades revolved around the compatibility of free will and determinism.
Harry Frankfurt in 1971 abandoned this battle by sketching a certain structure of our will and using it as an explanation for our felt freedom of will.
According to him, second-order volitions are supposed to be the fundamental basis for free will and guarantee the identification of a human being with his desires.
But Frankfurt goes further in stating that the above-mentioned structure of will is also an essential characteristic of what we call a person.
In this paper I will briefly outline Frankfurt�s theory of free will.
I then discuss arguments in favour and against his thesis, thereby paying special attention to a criticism raised by Gary Watson.
After this I will evaluate if we have good enough reasons to accept Frankfurt�s theory for both, an account of free will and of personhood.
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frankfurt_desires.doc