Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Aeschylus, G.E.M. Anscombe and Alfred Tarski

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2 ideas

16. Persons / F. Free Will / 3. Constraints on the will
Freedom involves acting according to an idea [Anscombe]
     Full Idea: Freedom at least involves the power of acting according to an idea.
     From: G.E.M. Anscombe (Causality and Determinism [1971], §2)
     A reaction: Since 'you' presumably have to sit above the idea and pass a judgement on it, then the same principle should apply to acting on a desire, which presumably 'you' could reject because it just wasn't attractive enough.
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism
To believe in determinism, one must believe in a system which determines events [Anscombe]
     Full Idea: 'The ball's path is determined' must mean 'there is only one possible path for the ball (assuming no air currents)', but what ground could one have for believing this, if one does not believe in some system for which it is a consequence?
     From: G.E.M. Anscombe (Causality and Determinism [1971], §2)
     A reaction: This seems right, but it doesn't follow that one has to know the full details of the system. The system might just be the best explanation, or even a matter of vague faith. It might, though, be just that you can't imagine any other outcome.