Deterministic Chance

Noûs 45 (2):269 - 299 (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

I sketch a new constraint on chance, which connects chance ascriptions closely with ascriptions of ability, and more specifically with 'CAN'-claims. This connection between chance and ability has some claim to be a platitude; moreover, it exposes the debate over deterministic chance to the extensive literature on (in)compatibilism about free will. The upshot is that a prima facie case for the tenability of deterministic chance can be made. But the main thrust of the paper is to draw attention to the connection between the truth conditions of sentences involving 'CAN' and 'CHANCE', and argue for the context sensitivity of each term. Awareness of this context sensitivity has consequences for the evaluation of particular philosophical arguments for (in) compatibilism when they are presented in particular contexts

Other Versions

No versions found

Similar books and articles

Deterministic Chance?Jonathan Schaffer - 2007 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 58 (2):113-140.
Difference-making and deterministic chance.Harjit Bhogal - 2020 - Philosophical Studies 178 (7):2215-2235.
Why Lewisians Should Love Deterministic Chance.Rachael Briggs - 2015 - In Barry Loewer & Jonathan Schaffer, A companion to David Lewis. Chichester, West Sussex ;: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 278–294.
Deterministic chance.Luke Glynn - 2010 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 61 (1):51–80.
Chance, determinism, and unsettledness.Antony Eagle - 2019 - Philosophical Studies 176 (3):781-802.
Context Sensitivity and Chance.Quinn Harr - 2020 - Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 101 (4):562-581.
The Universe Had One Chance.Heather Demarest - 2016 - Philosophy of Science 83 (2):248-264.
Chance and Context.Toby Handfield & Alastair Wilson - 2014 - In Alastair Wilson, Chance and Temporal Asymmetry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-06-26

Downloads
1,363 (#13,278)

6 months
134 (#39,551)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Antony Eagle
University of Adelaide

Citations of this work

Emergent Chance.Christian List & Marcus Pivato - 2015 - Philosophical Review 124 (1):119-152.
Chance, Possibility, and Explanation.Nina Emery - 2015 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 66 (1):95-120.
Simple Probabilistic Promotion.Eden Lin - 2018 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 96 (2):360-379.
Chance and Context.Toby Handfield & Alastair Wilson - 2014 - In Alastair Wilson, Chance and Temporal Asymmetry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

View all 26 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

Knowledge and its limits.Timothy Williamson - 2000 - New York: Oxford University Press.
The Philosophy of Philosophy.Timothy Williamson - 2007 - Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Philosophical papers.David Kellogg Lewis - 1983 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Knowledge and Its Limits.Timothy Williamson - 2003 - Philosophical Quarterly 53 (210):105-116.

View all 47 references / Add more references