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B etween D eterminism and I ndeterminism: The F reedom of C hoice in F ichte's D as S ystem D er S ittenlehre
Author(s) -
Goh KienHow
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
european journal of philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1468-0378
pISSN - 0966-8373
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0378.2012.00544.x
Subject(s) - indeterminism , determinism , reflection (computer programming) , dilemma , denial , free will , power (physics) , freedom of choice , epistemology , point (geometry) , philosophy , mathematics , law , psychology , computer science , physics , political science , psychoanalysis , geometry , quantum mechanics , programming language
This paper examines F ichte's conception of the freedom of choice in D as S ystem der S ittenlehre of 1798 as a solution to the dilemma posed by determinism and indeterminism. It show that Fichte does not simply affirm an indifferent power of voluntary choice, but demonstrates how such a power might co‐exist with the measure of regularity and lawfulness we normally admit of human choices. Particular choices do not occur at random, but are based on general reasons. These reasons are in turn based on the extent to which we have freely reflected on our original drive. Thus our choices can be comprehended and predicted from the point of reflection from which we choose. This does not lead to the denial of the freedom of choice, but only to rethinking it in terms of the freedom of reflection: Though we cannot choose other than what we choose from the point of reflection we occupy, we can choose other than what we choose by raising or lowering ourselves through reflection to a higher or lower point of reflection.