Determinism, Freedom, and Moral Responsibility: Essays in Ancient Philosophy

Determinism, freedom, and moral responsibility are discussed in nine essays by Susanne Bobzien, presenting ancient theories from Aristotle to Alexander of Aphrodisias. The author explores questions about human agency, compatibility with causes, impediments, predetermination, and character development. The essays demonstrate that these topics were debated in classical and Hellenistic philosophy without reference to freedom to do otherwise or free will, which were developed later.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Determinism, Freedom, and Moral Responsibility is a collection of nine essays that explore the concepts of determinism, freedom, and moral responsibility in antiquity. Authored by Susanne Bobzien, the essays present the primary ancient theories of determinism, freedom, and moral responsibility, spanning from Aristotle to Alexander of Aphrodisias in the third century CE. The author delves into various topics, including rational and autonomous human agency, its compatibility with preceding causes, external or internal factors, impediments, divine predetermination, theological questions, physical theories such as atomism and continuum theory, the sciences in general, elements that shape character development from childhood, epistemic features like ignorance of circumstances, necessity and modal theories, folk theories of fatalism, and the relationship between human autonomous agency and moral development, virtue, wisdom, blame, and praise.

Throughout the essays, Bobzien demonstrates a historically unified approach, philosophically profound insights, and methodologically rigorous discussions. She shows that in classical and Hellenistic philosophy, these topics were debated without reference to freedom to do otherwise or to free will. It was only later that the notions of freedom and free will emerged fully developed.

The essays in Determinism, Freedom, and Moral Responsibility offer a comprehensive exploration of these complex concepts, shedding light on the philosophical debates and developments of ancient times. They provide valuable insights into the historical context and evolution of these ideas, and their relevance to contemporary philosophical discourse. By examining the theories and arguments presented by various ancient philosophers, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of determinism, freedom, and moral responsibility, contributing to our broader understanding of human nature and the ethical challenges we face in our lives.

Weight: 692g
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198866732