| A brief history of the concept of free will: issues that are and are not germane to legal reasoning. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17393404 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Examining the history of the concept of free will helps distinguish metaphysical issues beyond the interest of a court of law from considerations about the nature of human action germane to legal reasoning. The latter include Plato's conception of the rational governance of the soul and Aristotle's conception of voluntary action, both of which arose before Hellenistic philosophers propounded analogues of modern positions against determinism (Epicureans) or for the compatibility of free will and determinism (Stoics). The concept of will itself also has a history, being first conceived as a distinct power by Augustine. Modern physics raised new problems about free will, as human motivations began to look less like rational perceptions of the good and more like mechanistic causes. Contemporary philosophy has not solved the problem of free will but has spun off analyses of the nature of action and moral responsibility that are of interest for legal reasoning. |
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Authors:
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Phillip Cary |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Historical Article; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Behavioral sciences & the law Volume: 25 ISSN: 0735-3936 ISO Abbreviation: Behav Sci Law Publication Date: 2007 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-04-04 Completed Date: 2007-06-26 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8404861 Medline TA: Behav Sci Law Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 165-81 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
Affiliation:
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Eastern University, 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, PA 19087, USA. pcary@eastern.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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History, 15th Century History, 16th Century History, 17th Century History, 18th Century History, Ancient History, Medieval Humans Jurisprudence* Personal Autonomy* Philosophy* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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