Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 21:39:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: Andrew Wayne Austin <aaustin-AT-utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
Subject: Re: M-I: Marxist history and counterfactual.


List,

One of the arguments for free will is that an individual or a people could
do something different if the same conditions presented itself again. But,
besides the indeterminancy of any point in history, the same conditions
cannot exist in any case because the problem is contaminated by hindsight.
It is like standing at the edge of the universe, beyond the farthest star
and supposing that something exists beyond that point. The very act of
exploring that "space" creates space and contaminates the experiment. You
can never know what lies in nothing because you create something through
your actions. History is produced this way. To make this a matter of
determinism or free will is all rather metaphysical. History if determined
in its broad outlines, but idiographically it is indeterminable. Like
Wallerstein said, "We can predict the past," or something to that effect. 

Peace,
Andy 




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