Determinism and Free Will: New Insights from Physics, Philosophy, and Theology

Description

In this small book, theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft (Nobel prize 1999), philosopher Emanuele Severino (Lincei Academician), and theologian Piero Coda (Pontifical Lateran University) confront one another on a topic that lies at the roots of quantum mechanics and at the origin of Western thought: Determinism and Free Will. "God does not play dice" said Einstein, a tenacious determinist. Quantum Mechanics and its clash with General Relativity have reanimated ancient dilemmas about chance and necessity: Is Nature deterministic? Is Man free? The “free-will theorem” by Conway and Kochen, and the deterministic interpretation of quantum mechanics proposed by 't Hooft, revive such philosophical questions in modern Physics. Is Becoming real? Is the Elementary Event a product of the Case? The cyclopean clash between Heraclitus and Parmenides has entered a new episode, as evidenced by the essays in this volume. Title Copyright Contents Introduction / Fabio Scardigli Bibliography Free Will in the Theory of Everything / Gerard ’t Hooft Abstract Theories of Everything God’s Assignment Demands and Rules Free Will Quantum Mechanics Bell’s Theorem Conclusion References Phenomenology, Freedom, Causality, and the Origin of Western Civilization / Emanuele Severino Abstract I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X Bibliography Grace, Freedom, Relation / Piero Coda A Methodological Premise If Truly “Everything Is Grace” Freedom, the Only True Place for the Encounter Between God and Humankind Relation as the Truth of Being Conclusion: Return to the Premise Bibliography