Free will, causality and the self / Atle Ottesen Søvik.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

1 Introduction ; 1.1 The Problem of Free Will-Main Positions and Problems ; 1.2 The Theory Proposed in this Book ; 1.3 Methodological Reflections ; 2 Causality ; 2.1 Part 1: Jonathan Schaffer's Understanding of Causality.

2.1.1 To what category do causes and effects belong? 2.1.2 How many relata are there in the causal relation? ; 2.1.3 How are causes and effects connected? ; 2.1.4 How are causes selected from other conditions? ; 2.2 Part 2: Evaluation of Schaffer's Understanding of Causality.

2.2.1 To what category do causes and effects belong? 2.2.2 How many relata are there in the causal relation? ; 2.2.3 How are causes and effects connected? ; 2.2.4 How are causes selected from other conditions? ; 3 The Self ; 3.1 Biological Background ; 3.2 Brain and Mind.

3.3 Emotion 3.4 Memory ; 3.5 Consciousness ; 3.6 The Self ; 3.7 The Function of Consciousness ; 3.8 Thinking ; 3.9 Desire ; 4 Free Will ; 4.1 What Is Free Will? ; 4.2 Alternative Possibilities ; 4.3 Determinism ; 4.4 Independence of the Self ; 4.5 Responsibility.

4.6 Free Will and Responsibility in Various Cases 5 Answers to Objections ; 5.1 Main problems for Libertarians ; 5.2 Main Problems for Compatibilists ; 5.3 Other Problems ; 5.4 Conclusion ; Bibliography ; Name index ; Subject index.

Søvik argues that since there is some indeterminism in the world, agents can be fundamental sources of their actions and thus freer than what compatibilists think without having to appeal to mysterious causation. The theory presupposes a plausible understanding of causation and the self, and shows that in an indetermined world it will sometimes be right to select persons as fundamental causes of their choices.

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