Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Through the Looking Glass', 'The Mysterious Flame' and 'Causation'

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2 ideas

16. Persons / F. Free Will / 1. Nature of Free Will
Free will is mental causation in action [McGinn]
     Full Idea: Free will is mental causation in action.
     From: Colin McGinn (The Mysterious Flame [1999], p.167)
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism
Determinism says there can't be two identical worlds up to a time, with identical laws, which then differ [Lewis]
     Full Idea: By determinism I mean that the prevailing laws of nature are such that there do not exist any two possible worlds which are exactly alike up to that time, which differ thereafter, and in which those laws are never violated.
     From: David Lewis (Causation [1973], p.196)
     A reaction: This would mean that the only way an action of free will could creep in would be if it accepted being a 'violation' of the laws of nature. Fans of free will would probably prefer to call it a 'natural' phenomenon. I'm with Lewis.