On Free Will and Determinism

E. M. Recio
PHIL 111: Metaphysics
Department of Philosophy
Drexel University, Philadelphia PA 19104

21st February 2001

Abstract:

R.E. Hobart argues that free will is ``inconceivable'' without some form of determinism. I will examine what he means about this remark and the free will/determinism issue in the context of the essays by Hobart, Chisholm, van Inwagen and O'Connor. Do we have ``free will''? Is it explicable or a ``mystery'' (as van Inwagen suggests)? How does the issue of causation (in particular, agent causation) tie in?