Free Will and the Future of Humanity

Abstract

This article presents the author’s attempt to analyze the argument “manipulation” versus “free will” by the philosopher Derk Pereboom. To demonstrate his position, Pereboom uses the “thought experiment” method, popular in analytical philosophy, and cites four similar cases. For the analysis and criticism of argumentation, developments from logic, a theory of argumentation, and science philosophy are used. An excursion into the history of “free will” was carried out, and the main directions in it were shown: compatibilism and incompatibilism, their differences, and strategies for arguing these positions. The article also examines the importance of free will in the context of the latest modern trends: globalization, COVID-19, civil society, foundations of democracy, a theory of law.

Keywords

• free will
• determinism
• compatibilism
• incompatibilism
• hard incompatibilism
• skepticism
• manipulation argument
• responsibility