Free Will

This Element provides an overview of the free will debate, distinguishing main senses, discussing positions, objections, and practical implications in personal relationships and criminal justice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The free will debate is a complex and ongoing discussion that has been captivating philosophers and thinkers for centuries. It revolves around the concept of human agency and whether we have the ability to make choices that are free from external influences or deterministic forces.

At its core, the debate revolves around the main senses of the term "free will." These include the sense of "agent causation," which refers to the ability of an agent to cause a particular outcome, and the sense of "personal agency," which refers to the ability of an agent to make choices that are independent of external factors.

There are several prominent versions of the main positions in the free will debate, including libertarianism, compatibilism, and free will skepticism. Libertarianism holds that we have genuine free will and that our choices are not determined by external factors. Compatibilism, on the other hand, argues that we have free will even though our choices are ultimately determined by natural laws. Free will skepticism, meanwhile, denies that we have free will altogether and suggests that our choices are either predetermined or random.

One of the central objections to these positions is the debate over whether the ability to do otherwise is required for moral responsibility. Libertarians argue that we must have the ability to do otherwise in order to be morally responsible for our actions. Compatibilists, however, argue that we can be morally responsible even if our choices are determined by natural laws. Free will skeptics, meanwhile, argue that moral responsibility is either illusory or irrelevant.

Another important area of discussion in the free will debate is the compatibility of free will with determinism. Determinism holds that all events, including human choices, are ultimately determined by natural laws. Compatibilists argue that free will is compatible with determinism because our choices are determined by natural laws but that we still have the ability to make them freely. Free will skeptics, however, argue that determinism precludes free will altogether.

Manipulation arguments against compatibilism are also a significant concern. These arguments suggest that if our choices are determined by natural laws, then we are not truly free to make them because we are not in control of our actions. Compatibilists argue that we are still free to make choices even if we are not in control of our actions because we have the ability to choose what we want to do.

The free will debate has practical implications in two areas: personal relationships and criminal justice. In personal relationships, the debate over free will can have an impact on how we view ourselves and others. Libertarians argue that we have the ability to make choices that are independent of external factors and that we are therefore. Compatibilists, on the other hand, argue that we have the ability to make choices that are determined by natural laws but that we are still responsible for the consequences of our actions. Free will skeptics, meanwhile, argue that we have no real ability to make choices and that our actions are ultimately determined by external factors.

In criminal justice, the debate over free will can have an impact on how we approach the issue of punishment and rehabilitation. Libertarians argue that we should punish individuals for their actions because they have the ability to choose whether to commit them. Compatibilists argue that we should punish individuals for their actions even if they are determined by natural laws because they are still responsible for their actions. Free will skeptics, meanwhile, argue that we should not punish individuals for their actions because they have no real ability to choose whether to commit them.

In conclusion, the free will debate is a complex and ongoing discussion that has been captivating philosophers and thinkers for centuries. It revolves around the concept of human agency and whether we have the ability to make choices that are free from external influences or deterministic forces. There are several prominent versions of the main positions in the debate, including libertarianism, compatibilism, and free will skepticism, and each of these positions has its own set of arguments and objections. The debate over whether the ability to do otherwise is required for moral responsibility, the compatibility of free will with determinism, and manipulation arguments against compatibilism are all important areas of discussion. The free will debate has practical implications in two areas: personal relationships and criminal justice, and it is important to consider these implications when evaluating our beliefs about free will.

Weight: 124g
Dimension: 151 x 227 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108987134
Edition number: New ed