The Psychology of Freedom

by Thomas Pink

Overview

This book considers our freedom of action, and what sort of mind, or psychology, that freedom requires. It argues that our freedom of action depends on our being able to decide freely which actions we shall perform; in other words, to have freedom of action, we need a free will. It shows how our decisions to act are actions themselves, but with the special function of ensuring the rationality of the actions that they explain. The book seeks to resolve a range of problems about the nature both of action and rationality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521555043
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/26/1996
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Agency and the will; 2. Scepticism about second-order agency; 3. Decision-making and freedom; 4. The psychologising conception of freedom; 5. Decision rationality and action rationality; 6. Decision-making and teleology; 7. The regress argument; 8. In defence of the action model; 9. The special-purpose agency of the will; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Pink's writing is complex, yet clear and crisp. He explains his theory of the will with precision and depth. His overall strategy is coherent and his argumentation is sophisticated." Clifford Williams, Philosophy in Review

"...an original and interesting book. Pink...offers a comprehensive, unified theory of a number of phenomena. His work should promote inquiry into some central (and some neglected) issues concerning freedom, action, decision, and practical rationality." Randolph Clarke, The Philosophical Review

From the Publisher