Single Idea 20054

[catalogued under 20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / c. Agent causation]

Full Idea

There must be some event A, presumably some cerebral event, which is not caused by any other event, but by the agent.

Gist of Idea

There has to be a brain event which is not caused by another event, but by the agent

Source

Roderick Chisholm (Freedom and Action [1966], p.20), quoted by Rowland Stout - Action 4 'Agent'

Book Reference

Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.65


A Reaction

I'm afraid this thought strikes me as quaintly ridiculous. What kind of metaphysics can allow causation outside the natural nexus, yet occuring within the physical brain? This is a relic of religious dualism. Let it go.