Rationality, Control, and Freedom

Making Sense of Human Freedom

Curran F. Douglass

The subject of this book is the controversy—one of the oldest in philosophy—about whether it is possible to have freedom in the face of universal causal determinism. Of course, it is crucial to consider what such freedom might mean—in particular, there is an important distinction between libertarian “free will” and the more naturalistic view of freedom taken by compatibilists.

This book provides background for laypersons through a historical survey of earlier views and some discussion and criticism of various contemporary views. In particular, it states and discusses the Consequence Argument, the most important argument challenging human freedom in recent literature. The main feature of the book is the argument for a solution: one that is within the compatibilist tradition, is naturalistic and in accord with findings of science and principles of engineering control theory. Some particular features of the offered solution include an argument for a close tie between freedom and control—where what is meant is the voluntary motion control of our bodies, and this “control” is understood naturalistically, by which the author means in accordance with concepts of engineering control theory and modern science. Such concepts are used to explain and demarcate the concept of “control” being used. Then it develops a working conception of what rationality is (since what is crucial is freedom in choice, and rationality is crucial to that), by reviewing texts on the subject by three expert authors (namely, Nathanson, Nozick, and Searle). It is argued that rationality is a species of biological learning control that involves deliberation; and that our freedom in choice is greatest when our choices are most rational.

University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Pages: 326 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-1-61147-837-2 • Hardback • June 2015 • $128.00 • (£98.00)

978-1-61147-838-9 • eBook • June 2015 • $121.50 • (£94.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Free Will & Determinism, Philosophy / General, Philosophy / Criticism

Rationality, Control, and Freedom

Making Sense of Human Freedom

Hardback

eBook

Summary

The subject of this book is the controversy—one of the oldest in philosophy—about whether it is possible to have freedom in the face of universal causal determinism. Of course, it is crucial to consider what such freedom might mean—in particular, there is an important distinction between libertarian “free will” and the more naturalistic view of freedom taken by compatibilists.

This book provides background for laypersons through a historical survey of earlier views and some discussion and criticism of various contemporary views. In particular, it states and discusses the Consequence Argument, the most important argument challenging human freedom in recent literature. The main feature of the book is the argument for a solution: one that is within the compatibilist tradition, is naturalistic and in accord with findings of science and principles of engineering control theory. Some particular features of the offered solution include an argument for a close tie between freedom and control—where what is meant is the voluntary motion control of our bodies, and this “control” is understood naturalistically, by which the author means in accordance with concepts of engineering control theory and modern science. Such concepts are used to explain and demarcate the concept of “control” being used. Then it develops a working conception of what rationality is (since what is crucial is freedom in choice, and rationality is crucial to that), by reviewing texts on the subject by three expert authors (namely, Nathanson, Nozick, and Searle). It is argued that rationality is a species of biological learning control that involves deliberation; and that our freedom in choice is greatest when our choices are most rational.

Details

University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Pages: 326 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-1-61147-837-2 • Hardback • June 2015 • $128.00 • (£98.00)

978-1-61147-838-9 • eBook • June 2015 • $121.50 • (£94.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Free Will & Determinism, Philosophy / General, Philosophy / Criticism

Author

Curran F. Douglass, now a PhD in philosophy, was formerly an engineer specializing in automatic control.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: An Old Controversy
Chapter 2: The Consequence Argument
Chapter 3: Problems with Incompatibilism
Chapter 4: Modern Compatibilism: Selected Sources
Chapter 5: Toward a Theory of Freedom: The Relation to Control
Chapter 6: Three Perspectives on Rationality
Chapter 7: Rational Selves Emerge
Chapter 8: How Rationality Enlarges Freedom
Chapter 9: Doing Otherwise
Chapter 10: Doing Well
Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author

Rationality, Control, and Freedom

Making Sense of Human Freedom

Curran F. Douglass

Rationality, Control, and Freedom

Making Sense of Human Freedom

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