In his book, philosopher and law professor Ken Levy explains why he agrees with most people, but not with most other philosophers, about free will and responsibility. Most people believe that we have both – that is, that our choices, decisions, and actions are neither determined nor undetermined but rather fully self-determined. By contrast, most philosophers understand just how difficult it is to defend this "metaphysical libertarian" position. So they tend to opt for two other theories: "responsibility skepticism" (which denies the very possibility of free will and responsibility) and "compatibilism" (which reduces free will and responsibility to properties that are compatible with determinism). In opposition to both of these theories, Levy explains how free will and responsibility are indeed metaphysically possible. But he also cautions against the dogma that metaphysical libertarianism is actually true, a widespread belief that continues to cause serious social, political, and legal harms.
Levy’s book presents a crisp, tight, historically informed discussion, with fresh clarity, insight, and originality. It will become one of the definitive resources for students, academics, and general readers in this critical intersection among metaphysics, ethics, and criminal law.
Key features:
- Presents a unique, qualified defense of "metaphysical libertarianism," the idea that our choices, decisions, and actions can be fully self-determined.
- Written clearly, accessibly, and with minimal jargon – rare for a book on the very difficult issues of free will and responsibility.
- Seamlessly connects philosophical, legal, psychological, and political issues.
- Will be provocative and insightful for professional philosophers, students, and non-philosophers.
Ch. 1. Incompatibilism Versus Compatibilism
Introduction
- Incompatibilism
- Indeterminism
- Compatibilists’ First Objection to Incompatibilism
- Metaphysical Libertarianism
- Three Possible Locations for Indeterminism
- Metaphysical Libertarianism’s Underlying Theory of the Self as Pure Substance
- Compatibilists’ Renewed Randomness Objection
- Two Problems with Metaphysical Libertarianism
- Compatibilism and the Harmony Condition
- Frankfurt’s Identification Theory
- Incompatibilists: Identification Is Insufficient for Free Will
- Traditional Compatibilism and the Ability to Do Otherwise
- Rationality Compatibilism
- Compatibilists Versus Metaphysical Libertarians
- Compatibilists Versus Free Will Skeptics
Conclusion
Ch. 2. New Compatibilism Versus the Ought-Implies-Can Principle
Introduction
- Five Definitions of Free Will
- Moral Responsibility
- Frankfurt’s Argument Against the Principle of Alternative Possibilities
- The Maxim Argument
- The Anti-Maxim Position
- Objections and Replies
- Why Frankfurt’s Conclusion Defeats the Maxim
Conclusion
Ch. 3. Moral Responsibility Does Not Require the Power to Do Otherwise, But It Does Require at Least One Alternative Possibility
Introduction
- Three Objections to Frankfurt’s Argument Against PAP
- David Hunt’s Blockage Argument
- Hunt’s Neural Wall
- Why Hunt’s Blockage Argument Fails: The Dilemma Argument Against Blockage
- Implications for Incompatibilism
Conclusion
Ch. 4. The Puzzle of Responsibility
Introduction
- The Responsibility Axiom and Two Kinds of Blameless Wrongdoing
- The Blameless Wrongdoer Argument
- A Working Conception of Responsibility
- The Sympathy Argument
- Just Criminal Punishment Does Not Necessarily Require Moral Responsibility
Conclusion
Ch. 5. Contrary to Responsibility Skepticism, Metaphysical Libertarianism Is Metaphysically Possible
Introduction
- Responsibility Skepticism
- The Responsibility Skeptic’s Objection to Robert Kane’s Defense of Metaphysical Libertarianism
- Supplementing Kane’s Metaphysical Libertarianism with Susan Wolf’s Rationalist Theory of Responsibility
- The Randomness Objection
- One Last Defense of Metaphysical Libertarianism Over Responsibility Skepticism
- Agent Causation
Conclusion
Ch. 6. The Dark Side of Metaphysical Libertarianism
Introduction
- The Self-Made-Man Postulate
- Success Is (Almost?) Entirely a Matter of Good Luck
- Constitutive Luck and Responsibility Skepticism
- Situational Luck
- Failure Is (Almost?) Entirely a Matter of Bad Luck
Conclusion
Ch. 7. Criminal Responsibility Does Not Require Moral Responsibility: Psychopaths
Introduction
- Psychopathy Defined
- Three Consequentialist Reasons for Criminally Punishing Psychopaths
- Three Arguments that Psychopaths Are Not Morally Responsible for Their Criminal Behavior
- The Insanity Defense
- Four Arguments that Psychopaths Are Insane
- Why the Criminal Justice System Regards Psychopaths as Criminally Responsible
- Why Psychopaths Are Criminally Responsible Even Though They Are Not Morally Responsible
A. A Working Definition of Psychopathy
B. Psychological Community’s Definition
C. Possible Problems with the PCL-R
D. Differences between Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder
A. First Argument that Psychopaths Are Not Morally Responsible for Their Criminal Behavior: Normative Incompetence
B. Second Argument that Psychopaths Are Not Morally Responsible for Their Criminal Behavior: Inability To Do Otherwise
C. Third Argument that Psychopaths Are Not Morally Responsible for Their Criminal Behavior: No Self-Control
A. Assumptions Underlying the Insanity Defense
B. Different Versions of the Insanity Defense
A. First Argument that Psychopaths Are Insane
B. Second Argument that Psychopaths Are Insane
C. Third Argument that Psychopaths Are Insane
D. Fourth Argument that Psychopaths Are Insane
A. Why Criminal Responsibility Does Not Require Moral Responsibility
B. Why Moral or Emotional Understanding of the Law Is Not Necessary for Criminal Responsibility
C. Psychopaths Have Sufficient Control over Their Behavior
Conclusion
Ch. 8. Criminal Responsibility Does Not Require Moral Responsibility: Situationism
Introduction
- The Excuses
- Situationism and Moral Responsibility
- Situationism and Criminal Responsibility
- The Insanity Defense: Two Final Objections
A. Stephen Morse's Dualist Theory of the Excuses
B. A Monist Theory of the Excuses
A. Our Nearly Universal Capacity for Cruelty
B. The Dispositionism Paradox
C. Situationism and Norm-Compliance
D. Stanley Milgram's Shock Experiment
E. Arguments for Recognizing Situationism as a Moral Excuse
Conclusion
Ch. 9. Addiction, Indoctrination, and Responsibility
Introduction
- Addiction
- The "Addiction Negates Responsibility" Argument
- Addiction Versus Weakness of Will
- The Disease theory Is Actually Consistent with Responsibility for Addiction
- Indoctrination
- Doxastic Control
- Greedy, Addict, Mr. Insane, and the Dangers of Responsibility Skepticism
Conclusion
Biography
Ken M. Levy is the Holt B. Harrison Professor of Law at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center of Louisiana State University. He has written chapters for anthologies published by Oxford, Routledge, and Sage, and he has published many articles in both philosophy journals and law reviews.