Podcast
Philosophize This!
This essay, written in 1884, explored the idea of viewing the entire history of the world through the lens of determinism or free will. James suggested seeing history as a series of free-acting agents making decisions, or as a chain of causally related events based on a predetermined order. He argued that regardless of which perspective you choose, the rational way to approach the future is to assume you have free will.
My first act of free will shall be to believe in free will.
— Episode: Episode #182 ... What if free will is an...
Episode: Episode #182 ... What if free will is an illusion?
This essay, written in 1884, explored the idea of viewing the entire history of the world through the lens of determinism or free will. James suggested seeing history as a series of free-acting agents making decisions, or as a chain of causally related events based on a predetermined order. He argued that regardless of which perspective you choose, the rational way to approach the future is to assume you have free will.
My first act of free will shall be to believe in free will.