Handlung und Freiheit

This volume contains nine fundamental works on the theory of action and the theory of freedom. These are all systematic and broaden the philosophical perspective by including the standpoint of theology, jurisprudence, psychology and neuroscience. Gottfried Seebaß analyzes various forms of action, in particular means-end rationality, negligent or reckless action and collective action. He defends the traditional view of the priority of individual action, conscious action and action resulting from free will. At the same time he develops a model of practical, will-forming reasoning as well as a concept of ought and must which is based on the will and not bound by sanctions. Freedom of action and freedom of will are traced back to the generic term of freedom from hindrances. An exact analysis of this shows the supposed compatibility of a belief in determinism with existing freedom as an illusion, but it also rejects the pseudo-contradiction between freedom and equality.