Free Will: The Basics
By Meghan Griffith
Published December 5th 2012 by Routledge – 150 pages
Series: The Basics
Description
The question of whether humans are free to make their own decisions has long been debated and it continues to be a controversial topic today. In Free Will: The Basics readers are provided with a clear and accessible introduction to this central but challenging philosophical problem. The questions which are discussed include:
- Does free will exist? Or is it illusory?
- Can we be free even if everything is determined by a chain of causes? If our actions are not determined, does this mean they are just random or a matter of luck?
- In order to have the kind of freedom required for moral responsibility, must we have alternatives?
- What can recent developments in science tell us about the existence of free will?
Because these questions are discussed without prejudicing one view over others and all technical terminology is clearly explained, this book is an ideal introduction to free will for the uninitiated.
Contents
Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Compatibility Issue 3. Moral Responsibility and Alternative Possibilities 4. Some Current Compatibilist Proposals 5. Some Current Incompatibilist Proposals 6. Other Positions 7. Free Will and Science 8. Where Does This Leave Us? Some Concluding Thoughts Glossary Index
Author Bio
Meghan Griffith is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Davidson College. She specializes in free will and action theory.
Name: Free Will: The Basics (Paperback) – Routledge
Description: By Meghan Griffith. The question of whether humans are free to make their own decisions has long been debated and it continues to be a controversial topic today. In Free Will: The Basics readers are provided with a clear and accessible introduction to this central but...
Categories: Introductory Philosophy, Ethics Philosophy, Moral Theory, Philosophy of Religion
