Human beings live amidst several bonds. These bonds often place both internal and external limitations that apparently create the view that a human being has no free will but is determined. This paper explores the con...Human beings live amidst several bonds. These bonds often place both internal and external limitations that apparently create the view that a human being has no free will but is determined. This paper explores the controversial issue whether a human being possesses free will to make free choices or is determined. It is the stance of this study that if one does not have free will then one cannot be morally responsible for one's actions and consequently praise and blame would then have no value. The paper, therefore, is of the view that notwithstanding the many bonds within which they live, humans, with their special dignity, have free will that operate within the respective constraints set by the bonds of human life. Furthermore, since morality involves good and bad, the paper asserts that for an act to be designated as morally good or bad, it implies that the agent was free to perform the said act or do otherwise to merit praise or blame respectively. Thus, for human freedom to be significant, it must be responsible.展开更多
Dialogue at the level of value beliefs is the underlying dimension of philosophical dialogue, yet at the same time it is the hardest and most problematic. Benign dialogue at the level of value beliefs makes the premis...Dialogue at the level of value beliefs is the underlying dimension of philosophical dialogue, yet at the same time it is the hardest and most problematic. Benign dialogue at the level of value beliefs makes the premise for real open and deep communication and interaction between Chinese, Western and Marxist philosophies, as well as significant content of and essential path to understanding of our own existing, configuring philosophy in contemporary China, and generating our national "philosophical ego" in the context of the life world of the Chinese.展开更多
文摘Human beings live amidst several bonds. These bonds often place both internal and external limitations that apparently create the view that a human being has no free will but is determined. This paper explores the controversial issue whether a human being possesses free will to make free choices or is determined. It is the stance of this study that if one does not have free will then one cannot be morally responsible for one's actions and consequently praise and blame would then have no value. The paper, therefore, is of the view that notwithstanding the many bonds within which they live, humans, with their special dignity, have free will that operate within the respective constraints set by the bonds of human life. Furthermore, since morality involves good and bad, the paper asserts that for an act to be designated as morally good or bad, it implies that the agent was free to perform the said act or do otherwise to merit praise or blame respectively. Thus, for human freedom to be significant, it must be responsible.
文摘Dialogue at the level of value beliefs is the underlying dimension of philosophical dialogue, yet at the same time it is the hardest and most problematic. Benign dialogue at the level of value beliefs makes the premise for real open and deep communication and interaction between Chinese, Western and Marxist philosophies, as well as significant content of and essential path to understanding of our own existing, configuring philosophy in contemporary China, and generating our national "philosophical ego" in the context of the life world of the Chinese.