Abstract

Western philosophers have long explored problems of free will and determinism, and regarded libertarianism as an important option. Asian philosophical traditions have however historically paid little attention to these problems, and ignored libertarianism. An explanation of this difference emerges from a survey of Confucian, Mohist, Daoist, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Zoroastrian, Greek, Jewish, Catholic, Calvinist, Arminian, Sunni, Shia, and contemporary philosophical traditions. Only Christians and Muslims accept a perfect creator and eternal damnation. This creates problems of evil to which a popular solution is the free will theodicy, which entails commitments to libertarianism and to great moral significance for free right action. These historical investigations provide secular philosophers with theological debunking arguments against libertarianism, and against the great significance ascribed to agency in contemporary metaethics. Asia suggests alternatives to both commitments.