Final answer:
Harry Frankfurt argues that it is possible for a being who is considered a person to lack freedom of the will if freedom is solely defined by the Principle of Alternative Possibilities. However, Frankfurt believes freedom comes from acting in accordance with one’s own will and desires. Thus, a person could be free even under constraint or coercion if they act according to their authentic first- and second-order volitions.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Harry Frankfurt, it is possible that a being who is a person could lack freedom of the will. Frankfurt presents a nuanced view that reconfigures our understanding of what it means to be free. He suggests that freedom should not necessarily be defined by the ability to do otherwise (Principle of Alternative Possibilities, PAP). Instead, Frankfurt offers an alternative concept, arguing that freedom involves acting according to one's own will and desires. For instance, even under coercion, if a person acts in alignment with what they truly want (first-order volition) and wants to want (second-order volition), they could be considered free because they are fulfilling their desires. Frankfurt's example of the alien demanding you eat pizza to prevent Earth's destruction illustrates this point. You might not have freedom in the traditional sense because you cannot choose otherwise without severe consequences, but you are free in that you both want the pizza and want to want it, satisfying both your first- and second-order volitions. His stance implies that factors such as social norms, external constraints, and internal pressures don't necessarily negate freedom if they don't interfere with aligning one's actions with inner desires.