The metaphysics of freedom : time, Kant and compatibilism

dc.contributor.authorBekker, Duncan
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-20T11:56:18Z
dc.date.available2015-08-20T11:56:18Z
dc.date.issued2015-08-20
dc.descriptionMASTERS (MA) RESEARCH ESSAY DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND 27/05/2015en_ZA
dc.description.abstract“Does a commitment to the block universe and ‘tense-less’ B-series time help meet the determinist challenge to free will advanced by the incompatibilist?” Incompatibilism is the position that the free will thesis and the thesis of determinism are not co-tenable. Compatibilism is the denial of incompatibilism. In this essay I examine a theory advanced by Carl Hoefer which aims to establish the compatibility of free will and determinism based upon – what he claims – is the correct understanding of time. I submit that Hoefer’s theory faces problems but that his essential insight regarding the relevance of time to the free will debate is important. As such, I analyse various arguments for and against incompatibilism by the lights of a particular metaphysic of time: that given by McTaggart’s B-series, Eternalism and the block universe. I suggest that many incompatibilist arguments turn upon an unjustified assumption regarding asymmetries in time and sketch various possible amendments to arguments on both sides of the debate. In particular, I suggest that arguments regarding the challenge to free will from determinism cannot proceed by invoking merely determinism but must deal with the metaphysics of time and causation.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/18291
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.titleThe metaphysics of freedom : time, Kant and compatibilismen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
ABSTRACT The Metaphysics of Freedom.pdf
Size:
65.77 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
DUNCAN BEKKER MA The Metaphysics of Freedom.pdf
Size:
738.72 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:

Collections