The London Lyceum Reformed Thought on Freedom vs. Compatibilism
Oct 15, 2025
Join Joel Chopp, a scholar of early Reformed theology, Joshua Lee Harris, a theologian exploring free will, and Daniel Houck, who bridges Wesleyan and Reformed views, in a riveting discussion about the complexities of free will. They dive into historical debates, the lasting influence of Jonathan Edwards, and the distinctions between compatibilism and libertarianism. The trio examines how these ideas shape our understanding of human agency and divine providence, while also contemplating potential reconciliations in theological perspectives.
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Muller Reframes Early Reformed Freedom
- Richard Muller argues early Reformed theologians were not theological determinists and shouldn't be labeled simple compatibilists.
- This claim reframes the debate by separating Jonathan Edwards' influence from earlier Reformed positions.
Two Kinds Of Hypothetical Necessity
- Muller distinguishes two forms of hypothetical necessity to show early Reformers rejected the compatibilist type.
- The Reformers allowed internal multiple possibilities within the agent despite necessary antecedents.
Agent Causation Changes The Terms
- Agent causation matters for interpreting early scholastic and Reformed accounts of free will.
- Event-based analyses can misread their claims about human self-motion and responsibility.
