Freedom in Belief and Desire

Philip Pettit, Michael Smith

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

People ordinarily suppose that there are certain things they ought to believe and certain things they ought not to believe. In supposing this to be so, they make corresponding assumptions about their belief-forming capacities. They assume that they are generally responsive to what they think they ought to believe in the things they actually come to believe. In much the same sense, people ordinarily suppose that there are certain things they ought to desire and do and they make corresponding assumptions about their capacities to form desires and act on them. We chart these assumptions and argue that they entail that people are responsible and free on two fronts: they are free and responsible believers, and free and responsible desirers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMind, Morality, and Explanation
Subtitle of host publicationSelected Collaborations
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages375-396
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9781383039337
ISBN (Print)9780199253364
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

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