Mele's ultimate purpose in this book is to help readers think more clearly about free will. He identifies and makes vivid the most important conceptual obstacles to justified belief in the existence of free will and meets them head on. Mele clarifies the central issue in the philosophical debate about free will and moral responsibility, criticizes various influential contemporary theories about free will, and develops two overlapping conceptions of free will - one for readers who are convinced that free will is incompatible with determinism (incompatibilists), and the other for readers who are convinced of the opposite (compatibilists). Mele's theory offers an original perspective on an important problem and will garner the attention of anyone interested in the debate on free will.

Mele, Alfred R., 1951-

IRL Press at Oxford University Press

Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

German Historical Institute London

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

New York, NY, United States, 2006

New York, New York State, 2006

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Mele's ultimate purpose in this book is to help readers think more clearly about free will. He identifies and makes vivid the most important conceptual obstacles to justified belief in the existence of free will and meets them head on. Mele clarifies the central issues in the philosophical
debate about free will and moral responsibility, criticizes various influential contemporary theories about free will, and develops two overlapping conceptions of free will--one for readers who are convinced that free will is incompatible with determinism (incompatibilists), and the other for
readers who are convinced of the opposite (compatibilists).
Luck poses problems for all believers in free will, and Mele offers novel solutions to those problems--one for incompatibilist believers in free will and the other for compatibilists. An early chapter of this empirically well-informed book clearly explains influential neuroscientific studies of
free will and debunks some extravagant interpretations of the data. Other featured topics include abilities and alternative possibilities, control and decision-making, the bearing of manipulation on free will, and the development of human infants into free agents. Mele's theory offers an original
perspective on an important problem and will garner the attention of anyone interested in the debate on free will.

Luck Poses Problems For All Believers In Free Will, And Mele Offers Novel Solutions To Those Problems - One For Incompatibilist Believers In Free Will And The Other For Compatibilists. An Early Chapter Of This Empirically Well-informed Book Clearly Explains Influential Neuroscientific Studies Of Free Will And Debunks Some Extravagant Interpretations Of The Data. Other Featured Topics Include Abilities And Alternative Possibilities, Control And Decision-making, The Bearing Of Manipulation On Free Will, And The Development Of Human Infants Into Free Agents. Mele's Theory Offers An Original Perspective On An Important Problem And Will Garner The Attention Of Anyone Interested In The Debate On Free Will.--jacket. Introduction -- Free Will And Neuroscience -- Libertarianism, Luck, And Control -- Frankfurt-style Cases, Luck, And Soft Libertarianism -- A Daring Soft Libertarian Response To Present Luck -- Compatibilism: Objections And Replies -- My Compatibilist Proposal: Objections And Replies -- Conclusion. Alfred R. Mele. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [209]-215) And Index.

Mele's ultimate purpose in this book is to help readers think more clearly about free will. He identifies and makes vivid the most important conceptual obstacles to justified belief in the existence of free will, including, prominently, obstacles posed by luck, and meets them head on.

x, 223 pages ; 22 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. [209]-215) and index

2023-06-28