Can you be morally responsible for an action you could not have avoided?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 23 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Harry Frankfurt challenged the long-held belief that moral responsibility requires the ability to do otherwise. Through his famous counterexamples, he argued that we are responsible for our choices when they align with our deepest desires, even if external circumstances made it impossible for us to have chosen differently.

Born David Bernard Stern in 1929, Harry Frankfurt became a towering figure in moral philosophy, known for his rigorous exploration of free will and the human condition. His academic journey spanned decades at institutions including Rockefeller University, Yale, and Princeton. He was celebrated not only for his intellectual ferocity but also for his gentle spirit and wit, which often surprised those who knew him primarily through his dense philosophical texts.

Frankfurt’s most significant contribution to the philosophy of action is the 'Frankfurt case,' a series of thought experiments that dismantled the Principle of Alternative Possibilities. This principle held that an agent is only morally responsible if they could have acted otherwise. Frankfurt argued that responsibility depends on the actual sequence of events; if an agent performs an act because they truly want to, they are responsible, regardless of whether they had the option to deviate from that path. This work remains a touchstone in debates over compatibilism and human freedom.

Beyond his technical work, Frankfurt gained unexpected fame with his 2005 bestseller, 'On Bullshit.' Originally written as an essay for a faculty group at Yale, the book treats the concept of bullshit with analytic rigor, distinguishing it from lying. While a liar must know the truth to subvert it, a bullshitter operates with a complete disregard for truth altogether. This slim volume sold over 700,000 copies, reflecting Frankfurt’s unique ability to bridge the gap between academic philosophy and the ordinary concerns of life.

In his later years, Frankfurt turned his attention to the nature of love and caring. He posited that love is our capacity to attach ourselves to people or ideas, granting them value through our commitment. This focus on what we 'care about'—and the reflection on which desires we truly value—defined his conception of the self. By examining the patterns of our inner lives, Frankfurt sought to understand not just how we act, but the kind of people we are.

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