Strawson’s argument (modified)

 

1.      (Premise) We are only responsible for a choice if it is causally preceded by a principle of choice we are responsible for.

2.      (Premise) We are only responsible for something if it is causally preceded by a choice we are responsible for.

3.      Therefore, every choice we are responsible for is causally preceded by a choice we are responsible for. (By (1) and (2))

4.      (Premise) If every A is causally preceded by an A, then either there is an infinite causal regress of As or a causal circle of As.

5.      Therefore, if we are responsible for a choice, then there is an infinite causal regress or circle of choices we are responsible for. (By (3) and (4))

6.      (Premise) There are no causal circles or infinite regresses among our choices.

7.      Therefore, we are not responsible for any choice. (By (5) and (6))

 

An argument for libertarianism

 

1.                                          (Premise) If you are in any way responsible for E, then either there is another choice or state of mind that you are in some way responsible for among E’s causes, or you freely caused E without any prior causes determining you to choose E.

2.                                          Therefore, if you are in any way responsible for anything, then either you caused something without any prior causes determining you to choose it, or there is an infinite causal regress or circle of our choices and/or states of mind. (By (1))

3.                                          (Premise) There are no causal loops.

4.                                          (Premise) You’ve only made finitely many choices and have had finitely many states of mind.

5.                                          Therefore, if you are in any way responsible for anything, then you freely caused something without any prior causes determining you to choose it.

 

An argument Chisholm thinks would be sound if Aquinas were right

 

1.                                                                  (Premise from Aquinas) God is the cause of every movement.

2.                                                                  (Premise) Every action is a movement (of the soul, say).

3.                                                                  (Premise) If y is the cause of x’s action, and x is neither identical with y nor responsible for y, then x is not responsible for the action.

4.                                                                  (Premise) Nobody but God is responsible for or identical with God.

5.                                                                  Therefore, if x acts, God is the cause of his action. (By (1) and (2))

6.                                                                  Therefore, if x is not God and x acts, x is not responsible for his action. (By (3), (4) and (5))

 

An argument pointing to agent causation and inspired by Chisholm

 

1.                                                                                          (Premise) If an action is caused deterministically by some event that the agent is not responsible for, then the agent is not responsible for the action.

2.                                                                                          (Premise) If an action is caused non-deterministically by some event that the agent is not responsible for, then the agent is not responsible for the action.

3.                                                                                          (Premise) If an action is uncaused, then the agent is not responsible for the action.

4.                                                                                          (Premise) If an agent is responsible for something, it either is an action (counting choices as actions) or a result of an earlier action that the agent is responsible for.

5.                                                                                          (Premise) There is a first thing I am responsible for, call it A.

6.                                                                                          A is an action. (By (4) and (5))

7.                                                                                          A is not caused by any event that the agent is responsible for. (By (5))

8.                                                                                          A is not caused by any event that the agent is not responsible for. (By (1), (2) and (5))

9.                                                                                          A is not uncaused. (By (3) and (5))

10.                                                                                      Therefore, A is caused by something that is not an event. (By (7)-(9))

11. (Premise) The best candidate for that something is the agent himself or herself, working by “immanent” agent causation.

12. Therefore, probably, A was caused by the agent working by “immanent” agent causation.