Items related to How Free Are You?: The Determinism Problem
Synopsis
A concise introduction to one of the central questions of philosophy for students and general readers, this book asks the question, "Are we subject to determinism or do we possess Free Will and thus responsibility for our actions?" The first six chapters of the book deal with the rival claims of the two theories, and investigate whether either of them is clear, consistent, complete, and demonstrably true. The inquiry in itself amounts to a complete philosophy of mind. The last four chapters deal with the implications of determinism and its significance in our public and private actions. Honderich examines the doctrines of compatibilism, which argues that we are subject to causation but are nevertheless free, and incompatibilism, which sees determinism and freedom as mutually exclusive. This debate has been one of philosophy's main battlegrounds for centuries, with thinkers as distinguished as Hume and Kant in opposite camps.
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Reviews
Honderich (Philosophy/University College, London) ponders an age-old question--are we free agents or pawns of unknown forces?- -and winds up embracing determinism. The author arrives at this conclusion through a series of closely argued deductions and thought experiments (readers unfamiliar with the terms of standard philosophical debate will welcome the excellent glossary at the end). His basic point is that all our actions are effects resulting from earlier causes; there is, then, no room for free will. Evidence for this lies, he believes, in a careful study of human neurology. He rejects epiphenomenalism, the theory that the mind is a byproduct of brain activity; rather, he sees actions as caused by ``psychoneural'' events that involve the combined effort of mind and brain. Nonetheless, Honderich argues that there is in fact no ``self'' within us that originates actions. His weakest moment comes when confronting the most popular recent challenge to determinism, quantum theory, which insists on the uncertainty of events within the subatomic world; here, his response is that maybe subatomic events don't have much to do with our level of reality, and, in any case, a new physics may come along that is based on determinism. Extrapolating his position into social spheres, he points out that in a determinist world there is no room for moral blame, and therefore punishment for the sake of punishment should be abolished; also, he suggests, those who deny free will may choose to move to the political left, which emphasizes social remedies over individual responsibility. As Honderich would have it, whether you read his book is not a matter of choice. Nonetheless, recommended for those with well- muscled brains. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Honderich accomplishes something remarkable in this short book. He simply and clearly explains most of the issues grouped by philosophers under "free will" and "determinism" while at the same time conveying to lay readers the complexity of the field. Honderich argues for a version of determinism; human beings, in his view, are subject to causal laws that account for their behavior. Along the way, most of the standard arguments, and a few nonstandard ones, receive Honderich's penetrating attention. Many people shy away from determinism because they think that human life as we know it depends on belief in free will. Honderich disagrees; if we resolutely accept determinism, he argues, our lives will be tolerable. The book is based on Honderich's long, difficult, and influential A Theory of Determinism (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1988). Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
- David Gordon, Bowling Green State Univ., Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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