Free Will
A Very Short Introduction
Published on 24. June 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-0-19-285358-5 (ISBN)
Description
Every day we seem to make and act upon all kinds of free choices - some of them trivial, and some so consequential that they may change the course of our life, or even the course of history. But are these choices really free? Or are we compelled to act the way we do by factors beyond our control? Is the feeling that we could have made different decisions just an illusion? And if our choices are not free, why should we be held morally responsible for our actions?
This Very Short Introduction, written by a leading authority on the subject, looks at a range of issues surrounding this fundamental philosophical question, exploring it from the ideas of the Greek and medieval philosophers through to the thoughts of present-day thinkers. It provides a interesting and incisive introduction to this perennially fascinating subject.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
This Very Short Introduction, written by a leading authority on the subject, looks at a range of issues surrounding this fundamental philosophical question, exploring it from the ideas of the Greek and medieval philosophers through to the thoughts of present-day thinkers. It provides a interesting and incisive introduction to this perennially fascinating subject.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
General readers interested in philosophy, students on undergraduate courses covering free will or ethics in philosophy courses
Illustrations
numerous halftones & line drawings
Dimensions
Height: 175 mm
Width: 111 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
131 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-285358-5 (9780192853585)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Thomas Pink is Lecturer in Philosophy at King's College, London. He works mainly in ethics, philosophy of mind and action, political philosophy, and philosophy of law. He also works on medieval and early modern philosophy. His publications include The Psychology of Freedom (CUP, 1996), and the edited collection (with Martin Stone) Theories of Human Action and the Will (forthcoming). He is also an associate editor of Mind.
Content
1. The free will problem ; 2. Freedom as free will ; 3. Compatibilism and reason ; 4. Compatibilism and nature ; 5. Morality without freedom? ; 6. Libertarianism and scepticism ; 7. Self-determination and the will ; 8. Freedom and its place in nature