Kansas University Philosophy Freewill Through the Eyes of Nagel Essay

We saw three of the most important contributions to ethics in Aristotle’s virtue ethics, Mill’s utilitarianism and Kant’s deontology, and how they would each argue for the morality of a claim differently.

We saw three of the most important theories of justification in Descartes, Locke and Goldman and how each would argue that beliefs are or aren’t justified. We looked at epistemology from a feminist lens to see how it might be biased or exclusionary in various ways. We saw a challenge to the prominent JTB account of knowledge with Gettier’s article.

1. We’ve also seen several prominent arguments for God’s existence in Anselm’s ontological argument, Aquinas’ cosmological arguments (Ways 1 – 3), Aquinas’ argument from degree (4th Way) and his teleological argument or argument from design (Way 5), and Paley’s argument from design. We’ve also seen several challenges to those arguments in Hume and Lewis on evil. 
2. We conclude by looking at the debate over free will, with Cahn, Nagel and Stace.
3. Your topic for this assignment is to answer the following questions:
4. What debate is the most interesting to you and why?

What are the essential ingredients to the debate? In other words, what are the key positions, the back and forths? Strengths and weaknesses?

Where do you come down on one of these debates? Why? ?This ‘Why’ is the hardest part. We must argue for our views in a rigorous and clear way. It’s out of bounds to say “Because I was raised to think X” or “Because X is popular” or “Because X strikes me as true.” Why is X the correct way of seeing it, according to you? What reasons make it likely to think that your belief is true?

1. Instructions:
2. You will be writing a short essay that addresses the topic you picked from above To do this well, you will need to address and/or do the following below, organized into a readable, precise essay.
3. To prepare to do your essay, you should do the following things. You need to say that you’re doing them as you do them. But it will help you organize your thoughts if you get them down on paper separately, then work to organize them in a way that they answer (1), (2) and (3) above. Answering (1) and (2) and (3) is the heart of this assignment. That’s what I’m looking for. You’ll use what’s below to be able to do that well. Not doing what is below will result in answering (1) – (3) poorly.

   First, choose your perspective. What is your position on this topic and WHY do you think your position is true? What assumptions help you figure out this issue? Do you agree with any of the reasons our authors offered? Do you have your own we didn’t consider? Why or why not?