Strawson's Basic Argument

Argument

P1: To be truly responsible for what you do, you must be truly responsible for the way you are
P2: You can't be truly responsible for the way you are
-- MP --
C: You cant be truly responsible for what you do

Justifications

Justification for P2

P2.1: To be responsible for the way you are, you must have intentionally brought it about that the way you are
P2.2: It is impossible to intentionally bring about that you are the way you are

Justification for P2.2

• You are given your DNA, you are not responsible for having the things you have
• A person cannot bring about their own nature

Responses

Denial of P1

Even if your action is determined by other factors, it is still you who acted the way you did because of your strength of will, reasoning, personality

Strawson’s Reponse

Your willpower, reasoning, personality are given to you by something else. You are not ultimately responsible.