Determinism and Freedom: In the Age of Modern Science

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Many philosophers discuss the matter of determinism in modern science and the implications of this doctrine regarding human freedom and responsibility. Introduction.......... 15 Part I - Determinism in Philosophy 1. The case for determinism by Brand Blanshard, Yale University.......... 19 2. Making something happen by Max Black, Cornell University.......... 31 3. Determinism and novelty by William Barrett, New York University.......... 46 Part II - Determinism in Modern Science 1. Determinism in modern science by Percy W. Bridgman, Harvard University.......... 57 2. The relativity of determinism by Milton K. Munitz, New York University.......... 76 3. The case for indeterminism by Alfred Lande, Ohio State University.......... 83 4. Determinism and the cosmos by Dennis W. Sciama, Trinity College, Cambridge University.......... 90 Part III - Determinism and Responsibility in Law and Ethics 1. Legal responsibility and excuses by H. L. A. Hart, Oxford University.......... 95 2. Hard and soft determinism by Paul Edwards, New York University.......... 117 3. What means this freedom? by John Hospers, Brooklyn College.......... 126 Part IV - Discussion 1. "Excusing conditions" and moral responsibility by Elizabeth Lane Beardsley, Lincoln University.......... 145 2. Determinism and the justifiability of moral blame by Richard Brandt, Swarthmore College.......... 149 3. Determinism and punishment by Percy W. Bridgman, Harvard University.......... 155 4. Responsibility and avoidability by Roderick W. Chisholm, Brown University.......... 157 5. Determinism, freedom, and responsibility by C. J. Ducasse, Brown University.......... 160 6. Some reflections on "The case for determinism" by Carl G. Hempel, Princeton University.......... 170 7. Some further reflections on moral responsibility by Howard W. Hintz, Brooklyn College.......... 176 8. Necessity, indeterminism, and sentimentalism by Sidney Hook, New York University.......... 180 9. Punishment as justice and as price; on randomness by Abba Lerner, Roosevelt College.......... 193 10. Some notes on determinism by Ernest Nagel, Columbia University.......... 196 11. Causation, determinism, and the "good" by F. S. C. Northrop, School of Law, Yale University.......... 201 12. Determinism, freedom, moral responsibility, and causal talk by Arthur Pap, Yale University.......... 212 13. Some equivocations of the notion of responsibility by Alfred Schultz, New School for Social Research.......... 219 14. Observations by Dennis W. Sciama, Trinity College, Cambridge University.......... 222 15. Determinism and the theory of agency by Richard Taylor, Brown University.......... 224 16. Common sense and beyond by Paul Weiss, Yale University.......... 231 17. On causation by H. Van R. Wilson, Brooklyn College.......... 237 Index.......... 245