University:
York University
Course:
PHIL 6420 | Topics in Moral Psychology
Academic year:

2024
Views:

260

Pages:

1
Author:

Rudi Yanto

Aristotle on Voluntary Action 1. What is a voluntary act? Under what conditions does a person act unconsciously? 2. When are we accountable for our actions, and thus subject to blame and praise? Unintentional: "What happens by coercion or out of ignorance seems to be accidental. What is imposed has an external origin, a type of origin in which the agent or victim contributes nothing if, for example, the wind or the human being who controls it takes him away." (NE III: 1109b361110a4) "What kind of things, then, should we say are forced? Perhaps we should say that something is forced unconditionally whenever the cause is external and the agent does not contribute anything." (1110b1-3, also 1110b14-16) "Everything caused by ignorance is non-voluntary, but what is unintentional also causes pain and regret." (1110b19, and 1111a32-b4) Accidental actions: A. Forced and hurtful/regretted actions B. An action performed out of ignorance (through ignorance, due to ignorance), for example, when ignorance is the original cause of the action, that is, when knowledge of something significant is lacking. mixed action; C. (involuntary): an act carried out through ignorance but not painful or regretful. D. (involuntary): an act taken in ignorance, for example, when one's country prevents one from making the right choice: i) When knowledge of the universal is lacking. ii) When a person is driven by lust or incompetence (intoxication). iii) When someone makes a bad judgment. E. The chosen action, but in dire circumstances, that is, the action will not be chosen for its own benefit, that is, it is not an action that would have been chosen otherwise (for example, removing cargo from the ship). Voluntary action: "... What was voluntary seemed to be what came from the agent himself when he learned the details that comprised the act." (NE III:1 1111a23-25) Responsibilities: 1. Volunteerism is not a definite test of responsibility, since animals and children behave voluntarily, but irresponsibly. A person is responsible if a voluntary act (or mixed action) arises from a type of character that is responsive to deliberation. 2. We are also responsible for some non-voluntary actions; Although these cases will be more difficult to decide, since it depends on the character and choice, also on the extent to which the individual is responsible for the character and choice...