The Thomistic Institute What is Freewill? And Do We Have It? | Prof. Paul Symington
Feb 27, 2024
Prof. Paul Symington, an expert in philosophy and free will, discusses the historical and contemporary views on free will. The podcast explores the interplay between the soul, brain, and free will, addressing objections like determinism. It also delves into how brain activity and consciousness play a role in achieving self-determination.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Three Core Features Of Free Will
- Free will involves the ability to actualize distinct possibilities, autonomy, and responsibility in interpersonal contexts.
- Paul Symington argues these common-sense components are real and socially operative, not mere illusions.
Hylomorphism Grounds Agent Causation
- Hylomorphism treats soul and body as one unified substance with the soul as the form of the person.
- Symington uses this to ground agent causation: the whole person, not merely brain parts, is the imminent cause of actions.
Will Depends On Intellect For Reasons
- The will depends on the intellect which posits goods; the intellect presents reasons and the will responds toward goods.
- Thus actions always have reasons and are not mere arbitrary choices, according to Symington.