Müller, Thomas and Briegel, Hans (2016) Stochastic libertarianism: How to maintain integrity in action without determinism. [Preprint]
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Abstract
Theories of free agency based on indeterminism -- that is, libertarian theories -- are often accused of undermining an agent's integrity: If an action is due to indeterministic happenings, how can it be called the agent's action to begin with? Isn't a deterministic connection between an agent's circumstances and her action needed to maintain her integrity?
We claim that a meaningful notion of agency does not need determinism. In this paper we introduce stochastic libertarianism, a novel theory of free agency under indeterminism. Based on a physically motivated, stochastic model of the temporal evolution of a deliberation process, stochastic libertarianism views indeterminism as a core resource for meaningful agency rather than as a threat. We counter the supposed threat by explicitly discussing Van Inwagen's replay argument, exposing a flaw in the argument that is due to insufficient attention to temporal details. Our approach can also explain how a stochastically libertarian agent developing over time can exhibit highly realiable behavior. We claim, therefore, that integrity in action does not need determinism.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Keywords: | agency, indeterminism, libertarianism, projective simulation | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Thomas Müller | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 30 Mar 2017 13:41 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 30 Mar 2017 13:41 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 12946 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism |
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| Date: | 12 January 2016 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12946 |
Available Versions of this Item
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Stochastic libertarianism:
How to maintain integrity in action without determinism. (deposited 14 Jan 2014 16:48)
- Stochastic libertarianism: How to maintain integrity in action without determinism. (deposited 30 Mar 2017 13:41) [Currently Displayed]
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