The problem of determinism arises in all the major areas of philosophy. This book, first published in 1991, is a critical and historical exposition of the problem and the most important ideas and arguments which have arisen over the many years of debate, and considers the various forms of determinism and the implications that they engender.
The problem of determinism arises in all the major areas of philosophy. The first part of this book, first published in 1991, is a critical and historical exposition of the problem and the most important ideas and arguments which have arisen over the many years of debate. The second part considers the various forms of determinism and the implications that they engender.
Part 1. The History of the Problem 1. Introduction 2. Determinism in Antiquity 3. God Through the Ages 4. The Rise of Science 5. The Grand Metaphysicians 6. The Soft Determinists 7. The Hard Determinists 8. More Science 9. Action Theory 10. Micro-Determinism, Macro-Determinism and Supervenience 11. Other Contemporary Analyses Part 2. Determinism - So What? 12. Logical Determinism 13. Theoretical Determinism 14. Psychological Determinism 15. Physical Determinism 16. Physical Implications of Determinism 17. Moral Implications of Determinism 18. Cultural Implications of Determinism