Free Will, Determinism and the Reality of the Future 3501-WWD19-S
The seminar is dedicated to a philosophical controversy concerning the relation between free will and physical determinism: could we be free in a deterministic world? First the apparatus of possible worlds is introduced and the definitions of the following stances provided: physical determinism, logical determinism, hard and soft determinism, compatibilism, fatalism, principle of universal causation, theory of multiple actuality, eternalism. Then we shall acquaint ourselves with classical arguments of G. W. Leibniz and David Hume as well as with the contemporary stage of the discussion between compatibilists and their opponents, i.e. with the theories developed by M. Schlick, P. van Inwagen D. Lewis, P. Strawson, D. Dennett and R. Kane. This will allow us to get to know various stances on the existence and the nature of freedom of the will, freedom of action, and moral responsibility. A special emphasis will be put on H. Frankfurt’s account.
The next important set of issues that will be examined in the course of the seminar concerns the relation between the proposition that future events are real and a proposition to the effect that we must do what we will actually do in the future. In this context we shall focus on the works of, inter alia, Aristotle, J. Łukasiewicz and P. Horwich. We shall also investigate whether, if propositions about future events are true at present, then there presently exist some facts that make those propositions true. Finally, we shall consider whether – and if so, then in what sense – the existence of free will in the world of logical determinism would entail the ability to control the past.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Students have a comprehensive and organized knowledge of:
- historical and contemporary theories and arguments advanced in the philosophical discussion on the relation between determinism and freedom of the will and moral responsibility
- the definitions of the theses of physical and logical determinism, the principle of universal causation and the doctrine of fatalism
- the problem concerning the reality of the future and the block universe theory
- the analysis of modal expressions in terms of possible worlds
Students:
- seek, analyze, evaluate, select, and use information from traditional and electronic sources
- read and interpret papers discussing the problem of freedom of the will and determinism
- understand oral presentations of philosophical ideas and arguments advanced in the philosophical dispute over compatibilism
- correctly use newly acquired terminology
- analyze philosophical arguments for and against compatibilism, identify their crucial assumptions and theses
- uncover relations between different philosophical claims and theories
- select argumentative strategies, formulate critical arguments, reply to criticism
Students:
- know the scope of their knowledge and skills, acknowledge the need for constant education and professional development
- are open to new ideas and ready to change their minds in light of available data and arguments
- organize their work effectively and critically assess its progress
Assessment criteria
Regular attendance is a necessary condition for receiving a credit for the seminar. Each student has the right to be absent for up to 4 times. The next 4 absences need to be made up by providing written reports on papers assigned by the lecturer. If any student exceeds the limit of 8 absences, then he/she cannot receive a credit for the seminar.
In order to get a 3.0 the student must write a report on a paper selected by the lecturer; getting 4.0 requires writing a report and delivering a presentation of one of the seminar readings. Receiving a 5.0 requires delivering a presentation and writing a paper on a topic closely connected with the main themes of the seminar.
Bibliography
„The Oxford Handbook of Free Will”, R. Kane (ed.), Oxford University Press, Oxford – New York 2002.
Arystoteles, „Hermeneutyka”, w: tegoż, „Dzieła wszystkie”, Państwowe
Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warszawa 1990, t. I, s. 69–88.
Chisholm, R.M., „Freedom and Action”, w: „Freedom and Determinism”, K. Lehrer (ed.), Random House, New York 1966, s. 11-44.
Chisholm, R.M., He Could Have Done Otherwise, „Journal of Philosophy” 4/1967, s. 409-417.
Dennett, D.C., „Elbow Room: The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting”, Clarendon Press, Oxford 1984.
– „Freedom Evolves”, Penguin Books, London 2004.
Earman J., „A Primer on Determinism”, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht 1986.
Frankfurt, H., „Wolność woli i pojęcie osoby”, w: „Filozofia moralności. Postanowienie i odpowiedzialność moralna”, J. Hołówka (red.), Aletheia, Warszawa 1997, s.21-39.
– „Alternatywne możliwości i odpowiedzialność moralna”, w: „Filozofia moralności...”, s. 163-174.
Horwich, P., „Asymmetries in Time. Problems in the Philosophy of Science”, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. – London 1987.
Hospers, J., „Wprowadzenie do analizy filozoficznej”, Aletheia, Warszawa 2001, rozdz. 5: „Co jest, a co być musi. Wolność a konieczność”, s. 225-285.
Hume, D., „Badania dotyczące rozumu ludzkiego”, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warszawa 1977, rozdz. VIII, „O wolności i konieczności”, s. 97-124.
– „Traktat o naturze ludzkiej”, Fundacja Aletheia, Warszawa 2005.
Kane, R., „The Significance of Free Will”, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1996.
Leibniz, G.W., „Wyznanie wiary filozofa”, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warszawa 1969.
– „Teodycea. O dobroci Boga, wolności człowieka i pochodzeniu zła”, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2001.
Lewis, D., Are We Free to Break the Laws, „Theoria” 47/1981, s. 113-121.
Łukasiewicz, J., „O determinizmie”, w: „Co istnieje? Antologia tekstów ontologicznych z komentarzami”, J.J. Jadacki, T. Bigaj, A. Lissowska (red.), Petit, Warszawa 1996, t. II, s. 152-164.
Schlick, M., „Zagadnienia etyki”, PWN, Warszawa 1960, rozdz. VII, „Kiedy człowiek jest odpowiedzialny?”, s. 170–187.
Strawson, P., „Freedom and Resentment and Other Essays”, Routledge, London-New York 2008.
van Inwagen, P., The Incompatibility of Free Will and Determinism, „Philosophical Studies” 27(3)/1975, s. 185-199.
Additional information
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