Talk:Roderick Chisholm

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Chisholm an incompatibilist.

Hi, folks. This is my first venture into wikipedia world, so I hope I'm obeying the rules.

I made a few changes here, mainly additions (it's important to note that Chisholm was a foundationalist; and that D. C. Williams was co-director of his thesis; and I added some books). The only major change I made was about whether Chisholm was a libertarian about free will (and so an incompatibilist) or a compatibilist. He argued forefully for the incompatibility of freedom and determinism, and I don't believe he ever took that back. So I eliminated the bit about "some people think it's a version of compatibilism" -- although, if there are people who say this, it might be worth mentioning, to clear the matter up. Still, I've never heard anyone say this, even.

Now, there is the question whether "agent causation" requires indeterminism; or might be compatible with determinism. I have heard of compatibilists who wanted to posit agent causation. But so far as I know, Chisholm doesn't address that question; and in any case, he always says that free action requires indeterminism.

Thanks very much to whoever started this entry on a great philosopher, and a kind and generous man.