The Free Will Show
Episode 6: The Problem of Luck with Alfred Mele
Sep 28, 2020
Alfred Mele discusses the problem of luck for libertarianism and various perspectives on free will. He explores different types of libertarian views, such as event causal and agent causation, and discusses the distinction between them. Mele proposes a solution to the problem of luck that incorporates its existence without negating free decisions, addressing antecedent probabilities and the first free choice.
38:29
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Quick takeaways
- The Problem of Luck challenges libertarian views of Free Will by questioning the role of luck in decision-making and its impact on free will and moral responsibility.
- Alfred Meely proposes a solution to the Problem of Luck that allows for the acknowledgement of luck while maintaining free will and moral responsibility by shaping antecedent probabilities through past choices and learning.
Deep dives
The Problem of Luck and Libertarian Free Will
The episode explores the Problem of Luck, which challenges libertarian views of Free Will. Cross-world differences and rollback scenarios are presented as examples of luck in decision-making. The main concern is whether luck undermines free will and moral responsibility. The guest, Alfred Meely, proposes a solution that acknowledges the presence of luck but explains how it doesn't preclude free decisions. He suggests that antecedent probabilities of choices are shaped by learning from past actions, allowing individuals to have control despite the cross-world differences in luck. This solution can be applied to both event causal and agent causal libertarian views.
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