Get-Fit Guy

The gym or the couch? Breaking down free will and fitness

Episode Summary

Why does the gym so often lose out to the comfort of the couch? Kevin explores the philosophical concept of free will through the lens of desires and autonomy. Discover how reflecting on your deeper values can help you align your actions with the person you want to be—whether it’s about fitness or life’s bigger choices.

Episode Notes

Get-Fit Guy is hosted by Kevin Don. A transcript is available at Simplecast.

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Episode Transcription

Hello again listeners, this is Kevin and welcome to another episode of Get Fit Guy. Last week, I spoke briefly about socio economic factors and getting to the gym. In response, I receive a nice email from a listener, which included the following paragraph:

“I know a lot of people have time as a problem. You know how it goes: you put in a long day at work, on your feet, you go home and you're the person who is tidying up & getting ready for tomorrow. The sofa looks really good at the end of the day, versus going to the gym or going for a walk/run.”

So, this week, I apologise in advance, but I’m going to go all philosophical again, specifically on the American philosopher, Harry Frankfurt’s take on free will. As usual, please remember that this is a 10 minute-ish long podcast, and in that time, I can’t even give a full account of Frankfurt on free will, let alone free will as a broader subject.

Free will is one of philosophy’s most enduring and debated topics. Among the many philosophers who have contributed to its study, Harry Frankfurt stands out for his innovative approach to understanding the relationship between desires, will, and moral responsibility. In his influential essay Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person (1971), Frankfurt develops a framework that focuses on the distinction between first-order desires and second-order desires, offering a unique perspective on what it means to act freely and autonomously. This essay explores Frankfurt’s ideas, breaking down his concepts of first-order and second-order desires, using real-world examples to illustrate them, and relating them to a scenario involving conflicting motivations about going to the gym.

The Concept of First-Order Desires

A first-order desire is a basic desire to perform or avoid an action. These desires are fundamental to human behaviour and can be either positive or negative in nature. For instance:

A person might have a first-order desire to eat a slice of pizza because it smells delicious.
Conversely, they might have a first-order desire to avoid stepping into a puddle to keep their shoes dry.

First-order desires are straightforward and tied to immediate preferences or impulses. They do not involve any reflection or evaluation of the desire itself; they simply express what an individual wants in the moment.

Example: The Gym Scenario

Consider a person named Alex, who is torn between two first-order desires:

The desire to go to the gym and work out.
The desire to stay at home and relax.

Each of these desires arises from Alex's immediate feelings—perhaps the satisfaction of a good workout motivates the first, while the comfort of lying on the couch motivates the second.

The Concept of Second-Order Desires

Second-order desires, as Frankfurt explains, are qualitatively different. These are desires about desires, reflecting an individual’s capacity for self-reflection and their conception of who they want to be. A second-order desire is a desire to either have or not have a particular first-order desire.

For example:

A person might have a second-order desire to want to study more diligently because they value academic success, even if they feel lazy at times (a first-order desire to procrastinate).
Conversely, someone might have a second-order desire not to want the urge to smoke because they wish to be healthier.

The existence of second-order desires reflects a higher level of cognitive and emotional complexity. It is the hallmark of what Frankfurt calls the human essence—our capacity to evaluate our desires and shape our actions based on values, goals, and self-conception.

Second-Order Volitions

Frankfurt takes the concept of second-order desires a step further by introducing the idea of second-order volitions. While second-order desires reflect what we wish to want, second-order volitions specify which desires we want to act upon. In other words, second-order volition is a desire for a specific first-order desire to be effective in driving one’s behaviour.

For example:

If someone has both a first-order desire to eat junk food and a second-order desire to avoid it for the sake of health, their second-order volition would align with their wish to let the desire for healthy eating determine their actions.

Second-order volitions are central to Frankfurt’s account of free will. He argues that a person acts freely when their effective first-order desires align with their second-order volitions. In this sense, free will is not about the absence of external constraints but about the internal harmony between one’s desires and one’s reflective evaluations.

Applying Frankfurt’s Framework to the Gym Scenario

Let us now analyze Alex’s predicament—whether to go to the gym or stay at home—through the lens of Frankfurt’s distinction between first-order and second-order desires.

First-Order Desires:

Alex has a first-order desire to go to the gym because they want to improve their fitness and feel good after working out.
Simultaneously, Alex has a competing first-order desire to stay at home, which arises from a wish to avoid physical exertion and enjoy immediate comfort.

Second-Order Desires:

Alex reflects on their situation and realizes that they value fitness and self-discipline. Consequently, they form a second-order desire to prioritize their first-order desire to go to the gym.
However, Alex might also acknowledge the appeal of staying at home and wish that they didn’t have such a strong inclination toward laziness—a second-order desire to suppress their first-order desire for relaxation.

Second-Order Volitions:

If Alex decides that they genuinely want their desire to go to the gym to guide their actions, they form a second-order volition in support of that desire.
Should Alex instead act on their desire to stay home despite wishing to be the kind of person who prioritizes fitness, this would reflect a failure to align their effective desires with their second-order volitions.

Autonomy and the Absence of Free Will

Frankfurt’s framework offers insight into what happens when an individual fails to act according to their second-order volitions. Such failures may indicate a lack of autonomy, as the person’s actions are not fully aligned with their reflective self-conception.

In Alex’s case:

If they end up staying at home, despite their second-order volition to prioritize fitness, it suggests that their will is not fully free. Instead, they are at the mercy of their first-order desires for comfort, which override their deeper commitments.

This lack of alignment can lead to feelings of regret, frustration, or self-criticism, as Alex recognizes the disconnect between their values and actions. Frankfurt emphasizes that such situations reveal how free will is not merely about choosing but about choosing in accordance with one’s higher-order desires.

The Importance of Reflective Endorsement

Frankfurt’s theory highlights the importance of reflective endorsement, the process by which individuals evaluate and affirm their desires. This capacity allows people to take ownership of their actions and shape their lives according to their ideals.

For example, Alex might engage in reflective endorsement by:

Acknowledging that they deeply value fitness and self-discipline.
Recognizing that their first-order desire to stay at home is incompatible with these values.
Strengthening their second-order volition to act on their desire to go to the gym.

By doing so, Alex exercises their free will and takes a step toward becoming the person they aspire to be.

Frankfurt’s Hierarchical Model and Moral Responsibility

A critical implication of Frankfurt’s theory is its connection to moral responsibility. He argues that individuals are morally responsible for their actions when they act in accordance with their second-order volitions. This is because such actions reflect the person’s authentic self, as opposed to being driven by unreflective impulses.

In Alex’s case:

If they go to the gym, fulfilling their second-order volition, they demonstrate autonomy and take responsibility for their actions.
If they stay at home, they may still be responsible, but only if they failed to make a genuine effort to align their actions with their reflective desires.

By linking free will to second-order volitions, Frankfurt provides a nuanced account of what it means to be responsible for one’s actions and choices.

Frankfurt and the Concept of the Unwilling Addict

One of Frankfurt’s most compelling illustrations of his theory is the example of the unwilling addict. This person has a first-order desire to take drugs and a second-order desire not to have this craving. Despite their reflective wish to overcome the addiction, they are unable to suppress their first-order desire, and the desire to take drugs becomes effective in their behaviour.

The unwilling addict is an example of someone who lacks free will because their actions are not aligned with their second-order volitions. This contrasts with a willing addict, who embraces their addiction and lacks the second-order desire to resist it. While both individuals act on the same first-order desire, only the unwilling addict experiences a conflict between their actions and their reflective evaluations, highlighting the role of higher-order desires in free will.

In Alex’s case:

If they habitually succumb to the comfort of staying at home despite wishing to prioritize fitness, they resemble the unwilling addict. Their inability to act on their second-order volition to go to the gym signifies a lack of autonomy.

Criticisms and Challenges to Frankfurt’s Theory

While Frankfurt’s framework is influential, it is not without its critics. Some common challenges include:

Infinite Regress: Critics argue that the concept of second-order desires could lead to an infinite regress. If second-order desires evaluate first-order desires, what stops us from positing third-order desires to evaluate second-order desires, and so on?
Overemphasis on Hierarchical Structure: Some philosophers contend that Frankfurt’s hierarchical model overlooks the importance of external influences and situational factors that shape behaviour. For example, Alex’s failure to go to the gym might not reflect a lack of free will but external pressures like work fatigue or social distractions.
Simplification of Human Psychology: Others argue that Frankfurt’s distinction between first-order and second-order desires oversimplifies the complexity of human motivation, which often involves unconscious drives and conflicting emotions that are not easily categorized.

Harry Frankfurt’s theory of free will offers a compelling framework for understanding human autonomy and moral responsibility. By distinguishing between first-order desires, second-order desires, and second-order volitions, Frankfurt illuminates the internal dynamics of choice and self-control. His insights are particularly useful in real-world scenarios, such as the struggle between going to the gym and staying at home, where the alignment (or lack thereof) between reflective desires and actions reveals the extent to which one exercises free will. This model of free will and the concept of a person remains a compelling way to explore the complexities of human motivation, self-determination, and moral accountability. It encourages individuals to reflect on their desires, affirm their values, and take responsibility for shaping their lives—a message that resonates deeply in both philosophy and everyday life.

If you have any questions or would like to just say ‘hi’, please email me at getfitguy@quickanddirtytips.com

Get-Fit Guy is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast. Thanks to the team at Quick and Dirty Tips Morgan Christianson, Holly Hutchings, the director of podcasts Brennan Goetschius and Davina Tomlin. I’m your host, Kevin Don. If you have a question for me, leave me a voicemail at 510-353-3104 or send me an email at getfitguy@quickanddirtytips.com. For more information about the show, visit quickanddirtytips.com, or check out the shownotes in your podcast app.