Lecture on Free Will and Contrastivism

Introduction

Presenter: Walter Sinnott-Armstrong
Institution: Duke University, Philosophy Department & Kenan Institute for Ethics
Topic: Introduction to contrastivism in the debate on free will

Determinism: Every event, including actions and choices, is caused by previous events.
- If determinism is correct, choices are predetermined and inevitable.
Incompatibilists: Believe determinism and free will cannot coexist.
- Hard Determinists: All actions are determined; no free will.
- Libertarians: Not all actions are determined; free will exists.
Compatibilists: Believe determinism is compatible with free will.
- Freedom depends on control over actions and choices through desires and values.
- Focus on how actions are determined, not if they are determined.

Continuous disagreement between compatibilists and incompatibilists.
Often degenerates into name-calling and lack of productive argument.
- Example insults: "quagmire of evasion" (William James), "wretched subterfuge" (Immanuel Kant), "panicky metaphysics" (Peter Strawson).

Contrastivism: Aims to reconcile and bring peace to the debate.
Focuses on identifying what freedom contrasts with in various contexts.
- Example: "Free" table vs. "Free" rolls (no reservation vs. no cost).
Application to Free Will:
- Freedom from Causation: Action/choice is free if not prevented by any cause.
  - Incompatible with determinism.
- Freedom from Constraint: Action/choice is free if not prevented by coercion, compulsion, ignorance.
  - Compatible with determinism.

Both concepts are legitimate and context-dependent.
- Metaphysicians: Focus on freedom from causation for human uniqueness and universal laws.
- Ethicists: Focus on freedom from constraint for responsibility and blame.
Importance of specifying the concept in question based on context and relevance.

Neither compatibilists nor incompatibilists fully win; both have legitimate points.
Acknowledging both concepts leads to the end of the debate and peace.
Contrastivism explains the root of the debate and provides a path to resolution.