Frankfurt case

noun

Any of a set of counterexamples to the principle of alternate possibilities (PAP), which holds that an agent is morally responsible for an action only if they could have acted otherwise.

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Meanings

nounFrankfurt case (plural Frankfurt cases)

plural Frankfurt cases

  1. human sciencesAny of a set of counterexamples to the principle of alternate possibilities (PAP), which holds that an agent is morally responsible for an action only if they could have acted otherwise.

Origin

Presented by philosopher Harry Frankfurt in 1969.

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Cite this entry
APA

Frankfurt case. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Frankfurt%20case

MLA

“Frankfurt case.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Frankfurt%20case. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Frankfurt case,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Frankfurt%20case.

Source: Frankfurt case on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.