The concept of free will is profoundly important to our
self-understanding, our interpersonal relationships, and our moral and
legal practices. If it turns out that no one is ever free and morally
responsible, what would that mean for society, morality, meaning, and
the law?
_Just Deserts_ brings together two philosophers - Daniel C. Dennett
and Gregg D. Caruso - to debate their respective views on free will,
moral responsibility, and legal punishment. In three extended
conversations, Dennett and Caruso present their arguments for and
against the existence of free will and debate their
implications. Dennett argues that the kind of free will required for
moral responsibility is compatible with determinism - for him,
self-control is key; we are not responsible for becoming responsible,
but are responsible for staying responsible, for keeping would-be
puppeteers at bay. Caruso takes the opposite view, arguing that who we
are and what we do is ultimately the result of factors beyond our
control, and because of this we are never morally responsible for our
actions in the sense that would make us _truly deserving_ of blame and
praise, punishment and reward.
_Just Deserts_ introduces the concepts central to the debate about
free will and moral responsibility by way of an entertaining,
rigorous, and sometimes heated philosophical dialogue between two
leading thinkers.
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Debating Free Will
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781509545773
Publisert
2021
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Polity
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter