The Case for Free Will | Professor Matthew Dugandzic
Aug 16, 2023
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Prof. Matthew Dugandzic explores the concept of free will, questioning if it is an illusion. He discusses the limitations of machines and argues that they cannot possess free will. The chapter also delves into the influence of mood on human behavior and the connection between freedom and knowledge. Additionally, it explores the concept of a perfect circle and its implications on our understanding of knowledge and reality. The chapter also discusses the concept of abstraction and how it allows the mind to derive universal ideas from specific characteristics. Lastly, it explores the relationship between predictability and free will.
The existence of free will is evidenced by our power of choice and denying it would lead to nihilism.
Our minds are immaterial and can grasp universal concepts, allowing us to know and act on knowledge.
Deep dives
Understanding Free Will and the Power of Choice
Free will is the ability to make choices based on our knowledge. We have the power to understand, perceive, and act upon the things that attract us. Our choices are not predetermined, but rather a result of our own decision-making. This power of choice is evidence of free will, and denying its existence would undermine the trust in our basic intuitions and lead to nihilism.
The Immateriality of the Mind and the Knowledge it Holds
Our minds are not bound by the limitations of matter. They have the capacity to abstract universal ideas and transcend the material realm. While our sensory experiences are limited to individual and particularized perceptions, our minds can grasp universal concepts and understand the natures of things. This immateriality of the mind allows us to know things and act on that knowledge.
The Immortality of the Soul and its Non-Material Origin
The soul, being immaterial, can exist without the support of the body, making it immortal. It is not produced through material generation but is created by God, subsisting independently. Our minds can work without our bodies during our lifetime, and therefore, it is reasonable to believe that they continue to exist even after death.
The Rational Appetite and the Inclination Towards the Good
The will is the rational appetite that follows reason. It is the inclination towards things that are perceived as good based on our knowledge. Our freedom lies in our ability to make choices guided by the understanding of what is good. The predictability of our behavior doesn't negate our freedom, as it stems from our inclination towards the good.
This lecture was given on April 18th, 2023, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
For more information on upcoming events, please visit our website: thomisticinstitute.org/upcoming-events
Speaker Bio:
Matthew Dugandzic joined the theology faculty at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in 2019 after completing a Ph.D. in moral theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. His dissertation, "A Thomistic Account of the Habituation of the Passions," explored the ways in which people can develop virtuous affective inclinations. Dr. Dugandzic's scholarship focuses on medieval thought, especially Thomas Aquinas' anthropology, psychology, and ethics. His work on Christ's passions recently appeared in the European Journal for the Study of Thomas Aquinas and his other writings on the passions and on bioethics have appeared in New Blackfriars and National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly. His current research focuses on the sources that Aquinas used in developing his understanding of virtue and on recovering ancient and medieval wisdom regarding economics in order to apply this wisdom to contemporary financial problems (like student loan debt). In addition to his doctorate, Dr. Dugandzic holds a BSc in biology from Concordia University in Montréal, Québec and an MA in religious studies from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York. He and his wife, Audra, live in Baltimore, MD. In his spare time, he likes to play hockey, which he enjoys almost as much as reading theology.
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