11 Comments

I wrote this piece on this question, precisely defending that being free is to do as you want, no matter how determined is what you want.

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/nY7oAdy5odfGqE7mQ/freedom-under-naturalistic-dualism

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Crescas is in the determinist camp to some extent at least. I've read he's a full on determenist, but haven't seen it inside, and his derasha on pesach doesnt look that way to me.

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I am somewhat skeptical that any Jewish Theologian could be a full fledged Determinist (though that is how Crescas is read) but I do discuss his view in an upcoming article (Part 3 of Free Will)

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I think that's a Maimonidean influence. I mean Izbitzca was probably a full fledged determinist (or something veerrrry close)

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In part 3 - I discuss the views of the Ishbitza. I understand why he is called a determinist but based on conversations with people who study him they seem to be convinced he is a free Will advocate.

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If you want to understand free will, it’s best to start with an antinomy: free action must be determined; free action can’t be determined. And the interesting question is whether there’s anything in the Jewish philosophical tradition that might help us to resolve it.

Particular verses — devoid of context and without an understanding of the whole — won’t help. But the Kabbalistic tradition — and in particular the idea that the world is an image of an image — might.

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I discuss this in part 3 of the free Will series 😊

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Medieval Jewish thinkers considered three options: free will, determinism, and randomness (מקרה). I'm surprised you ignore the third option.

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Sefaria's search engine might help you

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Interesting - I had not seen Mikreh in my research. Would you be able to share some sources with me? Very curious to learn more!

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I'm away from home right now, so I don't have access to books. Maybe next week. The Ramban uses it in the peirush on iyov. Try Chavel's index in the back of the Peirush on Humash; it also includes his edition of Kitvei Ramban. It also appears in Ibn Tibbon's translation of the Moreh. Maybe you can find a searchable version. And if you're feeling energetic you can try the Kuzari and the Ralbag's Milhamot HaShem, though

I'm not sure about either.

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