The FreeWill Problem in Modern Thought Classic Reprint

Excerpt from The Free-Will Problem in Modern Thought

IT is now some twenty years since Professor James opened his famous address on the Dilemma of Determinism with the remark that he knew of no subject which was less worn out than the free-will controversy. Subsequent events have justified his opinion, and various circumstances, among which the influence of Professor James' polemic is not unim portant, have conspired to bring forward again this world old problem, and make it at the beginning of our century one of the prime subjects of philosophic discussion. Au thoritative announcements that the free-will doctrine has been shattered by modern science or that the problem has been dropped by modern philosophy have not been wanting, but in the light of recent discussion these seem, to say the least, premature. T he writings of Martineau Brad ley, Ward and Royce, not to mention Howison, Mallock and the authors of Personal Idealism, give evidence of a deep and widespread philosophical interest, and this interest may, perhaps, excuse the present attempt to Show how the prob lem presents itself to the modern scientific and ethical con sciousness.

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