The question of free will- what it is, if it can exist, and if humans have it- has always sparked debate from philosophers and theologians; advances in cognitive science have served to sharpen the conversation. There are a number of common core arguments about the nature or existence of free will, and this volume takes an interactive look at the debate between four representative views. The first half of the book contains each philosopher's explanation of his particular view; the second half allows them to directly respond to each other's arguments, in a lively and engaging conversation.
Focusing on the concepts and interactions of free will, moral responsibility, and determinism, this text represents the most up-to-date account of the major positions in the free will debate. The book takes up the opposing viewpoints of libertarianism, defended by Robert Kane; compatibilism, defended by John Martin Fischer; hard incompatibilism, defended by Manuel Vargas; and revisionism, defended by Derk Pereboom. Original and compelling, Four Views on Free Will offers a balanced and enlightening discussion on all of the critical concepts and conflicts in the free will debate.
