The Free Will Show
Episode 5: The Consequence Argument with Peter van Inwagen
Sep 14, 2020
Philosopher Peter van Inwagen explains the consequence argument for incompatibilism and discusses the problem of freedom and determinism. He explores different versions of the consequence argument, challenges the fixity of laws of nature, and explores the complexities of free will and attributing blame. The podcast also touches on the mind argument, the problem of luck, and references Harry Frankfurt's cases.
33:26
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Quick takeaways
- The consequence argument shows that if determinism is true, our choices are predetermined and we lack genuine free will.
- The challenge of indeterminism highlights that if our actions are undetermined, chance rather than our agency determines our choices, raising questions about control and determinism's impact on free will.
Deep dives
The Consequence Argument for Incompatibilism
The podcast episode explores the consequence argument, which is a powerful argument against the compatibility of free will and determinism. The hosts discuss how the argument shows that if determinism is true, and the past determines the future, then we are not able to have free will. The speaker presents specific examples of decision-making scenarios and highlights how determinism limits our ability to do otherwise. The argument suggests that if determinism is true, our choices are predetermined, leaving no room for genuine free will.
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