Abstract

In my dissertation, I look at some of the theoretical and practical implications of free will. While many philosophers have supposed that our lacking free will would have negative consequences, I argue that dispensing with the concept of free will could, in fact, lead to a more just society. My argument proceeds in two parts. First: I argue that it is not possible to meet the conditions for free will, and I show that the impossibility of meeting these conditions entails that notions of desert, such as merit, praise, and blame, have no application. Second: I argue that we would be better off without the notions of desert and free will because they are relied upon to justify unfair distributions of social goods and they are not necessary for a just criminal law.