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“Defeaters” don't matter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2018

Zina B. Ward
Affiliation:
Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260zina.b.ward@pitt.eduhttp://zinabward.com
Edouard Machery
Affiliation:
Department of History and Philosophy of Science and the Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. machery@pitt.eduwww.edouardmachery.com

Abstract

We argue that the exercise of agency is compatible with the presence of what Doris calls “defeaters.” In order to undermine reflectivist theories of agency and support his valuational alternative, Doris must not simply show that defeaters exist but rather establish that some agentive behaviors do express a person's values without involving reflection.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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