Agents, Causes, and Events: Essays on Indeterminism and Free Will [Paperback]

Timothy O'Connor (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195091574 | ISBN-13: 978-0195091571 | Publication Date: February 9, 1995

Many philosophers are persuaded by familiar arguments that free will is incompatible with causal determinism. Yet, notoriously, past attempts to articulate how the right type of indeterminism might secure the capacity for autonomous action have generally been regarded as either demonstrably inadequate or irremediably obscure. This volume gathers together the most significant recent discussions concerning the prospects for devising a satisfactory indeterministic account of freedom of action. These essays give greater precision to traditional formulations of the problems associated with indeterministic accounts and to the range of theoretical avenues for pursuing resolutions. The first four essays set out different challenges (from both compatibilists and those skeptical of the possibility of free will) to the adequacy of standard indeterministic theories. The next seven essays meet one or more of these challenges. Each of the fundamental types of approach--simple indeterminism, causal indeterminism, and agent causation--is represented in these novel and sophisticated proposals. The collection finishes with two essays that debate whether compatibilism entails that freedom of choice is a comparatively rare phenomenon within an individual's life. Eloquently presenting some of the most compelling and accessible arguments surrounding this central philosophical issue, Agents, Causes, and Events makes a valuable contribution to courses in free will/action theory and metaphysics.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A nice collection of newer articles on free will....I might consider using this [text] or making it a recommended reading."--Mark van Roojen, University of Nebraska

"An immensely helpful collection for courses in the philosophy of mind and theory of action."--Robert Welshon, University of Colorado

About the Author

Timothy O'Connor is at Indiana University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 9, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195091574
• ISBN-13: 978-0195091571
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Standard, April 1, 2000

By 

M. Desarro "mr desarro" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agents, Causes, and Events: Essays on Indeterminism and Free Will (Paperback)

This book gathers the most signifigant recent discussions of the free will problem. All of the fundamental positions-determinism, simple indeterminism, causal indeterminism and agent causation, are defended by their most eloquent proponents with novel and sophisticated approaches. With Contributors Nagel, Strawson, Dennett, Nozick, Chisholm, Ginet, Van Ingwagen, Clarke, Kane, Double, Fischer and Ravizza. I can honestly say that there is probably no better book for anyone interested in this old, tired debate.