Category: Free WIll & Determinism
The Evolution of the Free-Thinking Argument
While sitting next to Timothy Fox in Dr. Scott Smith’s classroom at Biola University the summer of 2012, something Smith said sparked a thought. I quickly scribbled down a three-step syllogism in the margins of my notebook and got back to paying attention to his lecture. After class I approached Smith to show him this … Continue reading The Evolution of the Free-Thinking Argument
Justified Metaphysical Beliefs
Question Dear Dr. Stratton, I was watching a debate review where Taylor Cyr was talking about a revised Epicurean argument against determinism (pretty close to some of your Free-Thinking Arguments). While I don’t think he raised any good objections (he didn’t spend much time on it), his mention of it made me think of a … Continue reading Justified Metaphysical Beliefs
Alex Malpass vs Tim Stratton: A Debate on the Free-Thinking Argument
I recently had the honor of debating the well-known philosopher and atheist Dr. Alex Malpass on the Premier Unbelievable? YouTube channel. The catalyst of this event was the debate between Ben Shapiro and Alex O’Connor which took place a few weeks prior on the same platform. The topic of their debate was “Is Religion Good … Continue reading Alex Malpass vs Tim Stratton: A Debate on the Free-Thinking Argument
The Free-Thinking Argument for Beginners
The Free-Thinking Argument has been receiving much attention as of late. J.P. Moreland recently partnered with me to explain and defend the Free-Thinking Argument (FTA) in the academic literature (2022), I had the honor of presenting the argument at the Evangelical Philosophical Society (2023), the Unbelievable? show out of the UK, invited me to debate … Continue reading The Free-Thinking Argument for Beginners
Responding to Ben Shapiro and Alex O’Connor
Recently, on an episode of The Big Conversation from Premier Unbelievable?, the well-known Daily Wire host and political thinker extraordinaire Ben Shapiro debated against Oxford graduate of philosophy and theology, Alex O’Connor. The resolution of the debate was the question: “Is religion good or bad for society?” Ben Shapiro is a monotheist who believes that … Continue reading Responding to Ben Shapiro and Alex O’Connor
Panpsychism: Conscious Rocks and Socks
I recently read Galileo’s Error: Foundation for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff. I actually listened to it on Audible over the course of four days (mostly while walking my dog or working out). After listening to the first few chapters I decided to purchase the hard copy in order to read it … Continue reading Panpsychism: Conscious Rocks and Socks
Libertarian Free-Thinking and the Sapolsky Paradox
“I’ve decided that Sapolsky embodies a paradox: when you decide free will does not exist because you have weighed arguments for and against it, you prove free will exists.” – John Horgan (the science writer) Horgan is exactly right. These words are in response to neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky, who argues against free will in his … Continue reading Libertarian Free-Thinking and the Sapolsky Paradox
Because of Free Will
I wrote a poem about free will. Now, the odd thing about it, is that if you read it, you were determined to read it; and if you don’t, you were determined not to. Of course, free will exists, and those who claim otherwise are simply pulling our legs for the fun of it; but … Continue reading Because of Free Will
Objective Morality VS David Pallmann
Challenge For those who like the moral argument, here are my five challenges (framed as questions) for you. 1. Why think that moral realism is true? 2. Why think that moral facts/obligations need an explanation? 3. Why think that God would be able to explain the existence of moral facts/obligations? 4. What about non-theistic accounts … Continue reading Objective Morality VS David Pallmann
Reason and the Necessity of Libertarian Freedom: A Response to David Pallmann
Challenge Here’s a challenge for those who think that libertarian free will is necessary for rationality and/or knowledge (I am defining rationality as believing some proposition justifiably and I am defining knowledge as justified true belief). Imagine two worlds: world A and world B. In both worlds, John believes the same proposition on the basis … Continue reading Reason and the Necessity of Libertarian Freedom: A Response to David Pallmann