(3)

Question 1

Layout

Answer 1

1. (PAST)
2. Distinction between soft/hard facts
3. Reasons to have power over the soft facts
4. Objection against (PAST)
5. (PAST*)
6. The atheist’s dilemma

Question 2

(PAST)

Answer 2

Necessarily, if E occurred at at T₁ and T₁ is before T_2, then it is not at T₂ within S’s power to prevent E’s occurence at T_i

Question 3

Distinction between soft/hard temporal facts

Answer 3

Hard fact - P is made true entirely by the events that happen prior to T.

Soft fact - P is made true (partially) by events that happen prior to T and (partially) by events that happen at T or later than T.

Question 4

Reasons to have power over the soft facts

Answer 4

One can have power over soft facts because soft facts partially rely on events that happen at T or later than T.

For example, I have power over the soft fact of “me not speaking any languages that Socrates spoke” because it’s possible for me to learn ancient greek.

Question 5

Objection against (PAST)

Answer 5

1) If (PAST) is true, then we never have power over events at times relative to which they are soft facts about the past
2) But we do have such power sometimes
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3) So (PAST) is not true,
4) If (3) then (5)
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5) Therefore, premise (3) in the freedom argument is false

Question 6

(PAST*)

Answer 6

• Add to the antecedent (PAST): E is a hard fact about the past at T2
• “Necessarily, if E occurred at at T1 and T1 is before T2 and E is a hard fact about the past at T2, then it is not at T2 within S’s power to prevent E’s occurence at T1”

Question 7

the dilemma

Answer 7

Either you use (PAST) or (PAST*). If you use (PAST), it is refuted by the objection mentioned. However, if you use (PAST*) then it refutes premise (1) because the Foreknowledge Argument which stated that the 5 principles rule out freedom relies on soft facts.