Scientific Determinism

Question 1

Scientific Determinism

Answer 1

-everything including the human mind is determined.
-totality of causes wrapped up in Big Bang.
-future also determined
-all events in universe determined by antecedent events so there is no FW

Question 2

Biological Determinism

Answer 2

-all human traits have a physical nature and can be accounted for in a persons DNA
-there are genes that code for depression, aggression, sexuality, and addiction. if we know a persons genes their behaviour could be predictable, not free
-at its extreme reduced to nothing more than genetic robots, programmed and determined by their DNA
-‘PUPPET DETERMINISM’

Question 3

Avoiding Scientific Determinism argument 1

Answer 3

-scientific determinism can be avoided if laws of nature are probabilistic
-science operated by gathering evidence and from there see best available interpretation.
-have to recognise almost certain that our scientific theories are wrong
-history shows newer theories replace older ones as our knowledge increases, in future all that we regard now as ‘laws of nature’ will in likelihood be discarded and replaced.
-only degree of truth

Question 4

Avoiding scientific determinism - argument 2

Answer 4

-scientific determinism might also be avoided if quantum world is intermediate
-if it can be shown there are entities that aren’t completely governed by laws of nature, reason to reject SD.
-‘standard interpretation’ is ‘Copenhagen interpretation’ devised by Neils Bohr. according to laws governing quantum world are indeterministic and probabilistic
-how this affects events at macro scale isn’t clear but if there is indeterminism somewhere in matter, determinism seems to be false/

Question 5

Quantum Theory

Answer 5

-everything smaller that an atom
-electrons around atom are unpredictable
-at macro level things are uncertain, cant prove
-quantum particles dont follow laws of nature
-all these scientific laws we assume are certain, quantum physics challenges this.

Question 6

strengths

Answer 6

-supported by science and empiricism
-part of laws of nature clearly subject to causal laws
-logically easy to understand
-clear straightforward answer regarding ‘are we really free’
-darwin-evolution

Question 7

weaknesses

Answer 7

-scientific theory could be wrong as its based on inductive reasoning, conclusion possible not certain
-‘quantum level’ physical behaviour random and unpredictable
-morality doesnt exit if we are truly pre determined