PHIL 307T(S) Free Will (W)
According to the twelfth-century Persian poet Jalalu'ddin Rumi,"There is a disputation that will continue till mankind is raised from the dead, between the necessitarians and the partisans of free will." Rumi's prediction has not yet been disproved. This seminar will examine the"disputation" as it exists at present, made far more complex than for Rumi by developments within the physical sciences. We will consider the positions of those who affirm freedom and reject global determinism ("libertarians"), those who affirm determinism and reject freedom (not surprisingly,"determinists"), and those who attempt to affirm both freedom and determinism ("compatibilists"), but we will also seek alternative ways of framing the issues. The relevance of the free-will issue to ethics and perhaps to theology will also be considered. Students who took 272T in Fall 2005 require permission of the instructor to take this course for credit.
Format: tutorial. Requirements: attendance, preparation, participation; regular short writing assignments and/or class presentations; a term paper (10- to 15-pages).
Prerequisite: Philosophy 102 or permission of instructor. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 10). Preference to current and prospective Philosophy majors.
Tutorial meetings to be arranged. WHITE