Foreknowledge, Prior Truth, and Freedom - Some Arguments



I. The Foreknowledge Argument

A. A Note on the Logic of the Problem

To say that S is free with respect to doing A is to say that S can do A and S can refrain from doing A.

B. Three principles

K. If S knows that p is true, then p must be true.
F. (p) God knows whether p is true.
C. If S must do O, then S can't do O' (an alternative to O).

C. The Argument

1. Either God knows that I will do O or God knows that I will do O'. (F)
2. If God knows that I will do O, then I must do O. (K)
3. If God knows that I will do O', then I must do O'. (K)
4. If I must do O, then I can't do O'. (C)
5. If I must do O', then I can't do O. (C)
6. Either I can't do O' or I can't do O. (1) - (5)
7. If (6), then I'm not free
8. I'm not free. (6), (7)

II. Taylor's Argument

A. Taylor's Six Presuppositions

1. LEM: Every statement is either true or false, but not both.
2. SUFF: If e1 is suff. for e2, then e1 cannot occur without e2 also occurring.
3. NEC: If e1 is nec. for e2, then e2 cannot occur with out e1 occurring.
4. (2) + (3)
5. POWER: If e1 is nec. for S's doing A, and e1 does not occur, then S cannot do A.
6. Time is not efficacious.

B. Argument 1- The Headline

S: Seeing a battle headline
S': Seeing a no battle headline
P: There was a battle
P': There was no battle

Assume: (a) P is nec. for me to do S; (b) P' is nec. for me to do S'.

Here's what we would be true if I had freedom in this case:

(A) It is now within my power to do S and it is now within my power to do S'.

Argument 1
1. If P is true, then S' is not within my power. (Assump. (a), Presup. (5).
2. If P' is true, then S is not within my power. (Assump. (b), ")
3. Either P is true or P' is true. (presup. 1)
4. ~(A). (1,2,3)

C. Argument 2- The Battle

O: Order a battle
O': Order no battle
Q: There will be a battle
Q': There won't be a battle.

Assume: (c) Q is nec. for me to do O; (d) Q' is nec. for me to do O'

Here's what we think is true:

(B) It is now within my power to do O and it is now within my power to do O'.

Argument 2
1. If Q is true, then O' is not within my power. (Assump. (c), Presup. (5).)
2. If Q' is true, then O is not within my power. (Assump. (d), ")
3. Either Q is true or Q' is true. (presup. 1)
4. ~(B). (1,2,3)

B. Taylor's Main Argument

1. Argument 1 is sound iff Argument 2 is sound.
2. Argument 1 is sound.
3. Argument 2 is sound.

And, further, this can be generalized.