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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.