Metaphysics for Freedom

Helen Steward argues that determinism is incompatible with agency itself¿not only the special human variety of agency, but also powers which can be accorded to animal agents. She offers a distinctive, non-dualistic version of libertarianism, rooted in a conception of what biological forms of organisation might make possible in the way of freedom.

List of contents

• Preface


• 1: The Problem


• 2: 'Up to Us-ness', Agency and Determinism


• 3: Action as Settling: Some Objections


• 4: Animal Agency


• 5: The Epistemological Argument


• 6: Indeterminism and Intelligibility


• 7: Responding to the Challenge from Chance: Some Objections


• 8: Agency, Substance Causation, and Top-Down Causation


• Conclusion


• References


• Index

About the author

Helen Steward studied philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford. She was a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, for many years before moving to the University of Leeds, where she is currently a Senior Lecturer.

Summary

Helen Steward argues that determinism is incompatible with agency itself--not only the special human variety of agency, but also powers which can be accorded to animal agents. She offers a distinctive, non-dualistic version of libertarianism, rooted in a conception of what biological forms of organisation might make possible in the way of freedom.

Additional text

Steward introduces a novel position in the freewill debate ... Anyone interested in mind and agency must read this book.

Product details

• Authors: Helen Steward, Helen (University of Leeds) Steward, Steward Helen
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.05.2014
• EAN: 9780198706465
• ISBN: 978-0-19-870646-5
• No. of pages: 280
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Mind & Body, PHILOSOPHY / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Ethics & moral philosophy, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Ethics and moral philosophy