Conditional analysis of ability

It's sometimes fun to beat a dead horse. Consider the classic compatibilist conditional analysis of ability:

• x can do A if and only if were x to choose to do A, x would do A.

A student in class today pointed out that then the indecisive Kirk in The Enemy Within can save the crew, since if he were to choose to do so, he would. But of course the point is that he can't (or at least wouldn't be able to if the condition progressed).

It gets worse:

• My pen can make a choice. For if it were to choose to make a choice, it would make a choice.
• A shark can entertain thoughts about moral duties. For if it were to choose to entertain thoughts about moral duties, it would entertain thoughts about moral duties.