Clear all
Work #562 · Mid

An Essay on Free Will

Peter van Inwagen
1983 · English
Analytic metaphysics · American analytic metaphysics

Van Inwagen's 1983 foundational analytic libertarian theory of free will — the Consequence Argument

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute An Essay on Free Will (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

An Essay on Free Will

The temporal time of free choice.

✦

Space

An Essay on Free Will

The modal-space of alternative possibilities.

◉

Matter

An Essay on Free Will

The embodied agent in physical reality.

◎

Observer

An Essay on Free Will

The free libertarian agent.

⚡

Energy

An Essay on Free Will

Energies of free choice.

⧉

Information

An Essay on Free Will

Foundational analytic-libertarian framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

An Essay on Free Will

Van Inwagen's libertarianism vs. compatibilism (Frankfurt, Lewis) — the central modern free-will debate.