偏斜、 自发性与偶然性: 自由意志的自然主义解释

The Swerve，Spontaneity，and Chance：A Naturalistic Account of Free Will

摘要:

在古罗马哲学长诗 《物性论》 的宇宙里, 偏斜不仅是原子最本质的属性, 也是人类自由意志 在物质结构最深处的理据。 原子在水平方向的自发偏斜打破了垂直下坠的 “自然” 运动和卢克莱修所称的 “命运的法则”。 但偏斜是否直接产生了自由意志, 当代学界对此有争议。 此外, 偏斜的自发性是否必然意 味着偶然性, 偶然性是否必然导致宇宙无法形成秩序, 人类难以拥有自由意志, 也是学者激烈争论的话题。 事实上, 至少在 《物性论》 的体系里, 自发性是对决定论的反叛, 它并非必然引向偶然性, 因为自发地遵 从自然法则是完全可能的, 但自发性可以保护偶然性。 偶然性并非负面因素: 作为创生法则, 它为宇宙的丰 富性负责; 作为人内在的特性, 它实现了个体阐释、 选择和行动的不可预测, 从而确保了自由意志。 卢克莱 修和伊壁鸠鲁哲学关于自由意志的论证在西方古典传统中独树一帜, 也最具自洽性。

Abstract:

The concept of the swerve （clinamen） was Epicurus _’ unique contribution to classical atomism，which was later systematically elaborated by the Roman poet Lucretius in his philosophical epic De Rerum Natura. According to Lucretius，the swerve is not only the essential property of the atom，but also the basis of human free will in the fundamental structure of the material universe. The relationship between the swerve and free will is therefore an important topic in DRN scholarship，and has sparked a lasting controversy in the academic community. The spontaneous horizontal deflection of atoms breaks the _“natural _” motion of vertical fall，thus avoiding the emergence of an absolutely deterministic universe，but many scholars believe that the swerve cannot serve as the cause of free will. However，although not a sufficient condition for free will，the swerve is a necessary logical precondition for it，because the determinism it resists necessarily precludes the possibility of free will. Lucretius particularly emphasizes the spontaneity of the swerve，and although De Rerum Natura states that it occurs at indeterminate moments and locations，we should not think that this movement is random and purely accidental，since the creation and change of natural objects （including plants and animals） described by Lucretius always follow the laws of nature spontaneously，without external compulsion. The antipode of the swerve is behavior controlled by external forces；the swerve does not oppose all causality or orderly，definite，or even deliberate behavior. It is intended to explain precisely those aspects of humans and animals that are free，independent，and natural，including human free will. Some scholars believe that chance may prevent the universe from generating order，thus making it difficult for humans to have free will. But in the framework of De Rerum Natura，chance is not a negative factor. As a law of creation，it is responsible for the richness of the universe. Without the accidental swerve of atoms，nature could never have created anything and evolved the form seen today through the mechanism of trial and error；as an intrinsic human characteristic，it achieves the unpredictability of individual interpretation，choice，and action，thus ensuring free will. By introducing the swerve of the atom，Epicurus and Lucretius not only expound the genesis and evolution of the material universe in a naturalistic manner，but also provide a naturalistic explanation of free will，which is in the human spiritual realm，consistent with the logic of atomistic physics. This interpretation clearly differs from Plato _’s and Aristotle _’s account based on reason，the Stoics _’account characterized by moral idealism，and Augustine _’s account with divine grace as the ultimate guarantee，but it is not value-neutral and is still guided by Epicurean ethics with ataraxia as its goal.