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Free Will and Illusion Saul Smilansky (, University of Haifa, Israel)

Free Will and Illusion By Saul Smilansky (, University of Haifa, Israel)

Free Will and Illusion by Saul Smilansky (, University of Haifa, Israel)


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Summary

Saul Smilansky presents an original new approach to the problem of free will, which lies at the heart of morality and human self-understanding. He maintains that the key to the problem is the role played by illusion. Smilansky's bold claim is that we could not live adequately with a complete awareness of the truth about human freedom: illusion lies at the centre of the human condition.

Free Will and Illusion Summary

Free Will and Illusion by Saul Smilansky (, University of Haifa, Israel)

Saul Smilansky presents an original treatment of the problem of free will, which lies at the heart of morality and human self-understanding. He maintains that we have most of the resources we need for a proper understanding of the problem; and the key to it is the role played by illusion. The major traditional philosophical approaches are inadequate, Smilansky argues: their partial insights need to be integrated into a hybrid view, which he calls Fundamental Dualism. Common views about justice, responsibility, human worth, and related notions are radically misguided, and the absurd looms large. We do, however, find some justification for enlightened moral views, and grounding for some of our most cherished views of human nature. The bold and perhaps disturbing claim of Free Will and Illusion is that we could not live adequately with a complete awareness of the truth about human freedom: illusion lies at the centre of the human condition. The necessity of illusion is seen to follow from the basic elements of the free will issue, helping keep our moral and psychological worlds intact. Smilansky offers the challenge of recognizing the centrality of illusion and trying to free ourselves to some extent from it; this is not only a philosophical challenge, but a moral and psychological one as well.

Free Will and Illusion Reviews

Free Will and Illusion is a large, ambitious, and thoughtful book which takes the debate in new directions, while also illuminating more traditional puzzles Smilansky devotes considerable space to a subtle and thorough exploration of the role of illusion in our views about free will ... A distinctive and helpful feature of Smilansky's approach is to widen the scope of free will to include issues in 'distributive' as well as 'retributive' justice. * John Martin Fischer, Times Literary Supplement *
We should recognize the interest and power of Smilansky's project (and achievement) integrating the concern with the possibility of (genuine) agency into the concerns of applied philosophy. * Graham McFee, Res Publica *
I enjoyed this book ... Smilansky shows a remarkable breadth of learning and an admirable ability to address what needs addressing without engaging in make-work projects. The second half of the book, devoted to Illusionism, is interesting reading. * Mind *

About Saul Smilansky (, University of Haifa, Israel)

Saul Smilansky is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Haifa, Israel.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION; PART I: METAPHYSICAL AND ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS; 2. THE CORE CONCEPTION; 3. WHY NOT COMPATIBILISM? 4. WHY NOT LIBERTARIAN FREE WILL? 5. WHY NOT HARD DETERMINISM? 6. THE FUNDAMENTAL DUALISM; PART II: THE ROLE OF ILLUSION; 7. THE POSITIVE IMPORTANCE OF ILLUSION; 8. EXPLORATIONS IN THE LAND OF ILLUSION; 9. WHY NOT REACTIVE NATURALISM? 10. SOME FURTHER BENEFITS; 11. SOME ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS; 12. CONCLUSION; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

Additional information

NPB9780198250180
9780198250180
0198250185
Free Will and Illusion by Saul Smilansky (, University of Haifa, Israel)
New
Hardback
Oxford University Press
2000-03-30
344
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
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