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Philosophy / Unit 4   Philosophy 0166 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Principle of Alternative Possibilities

Captions available

The idea

The principle of alternative possibilities: a person is morally responsible for an action only if they could have done otherwise—no alternative, no blame.

In practice

The principle sounds undeniable—blame seems to require an open exit the agent saw and declined to take.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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