Ayer

Question 1

Definition of Free will

Answer 1

An action is free, IFF an individual “could have acted otherwise”

Question 2

Definition of Freedom

Answer 2

“Feel” free - feels like we are making free choices
- Perhaps wishful thinking on the part of the moralist

Question 3

Free will and Moral Responsibility

Answer 3

• Being held accountable for choices/decisions
• Freedom of the will NECASSARY CONDITION for moral responsibility

Question 4

What is the Problem of free will>

Answer 4

• If human behaviour governed by causal laws, unclear how action could be avoided
• If action could not be avoided…then human being could not be said to be morally responsible

Question 5

Is a complete explanation of Behavior possible?

Answer 5

• Theoretically possible/ attainable
• No a priori reason for why we cannot explain all human behavior (using causal laws)
• No a priori reason for why it is impossible to conclude that we cannot explain all human behaviour (using causal laws)

Question 6

Freedom Contra Chance

Answer 6

• Quantum theory and uncertainty principles (cannot know definite things about particles until they are observed)
• If actions not causually determined…THEN actions must be the result of random chance
• Unfortunately quantum theory is unable to rescue freedom
  from determinism, because even if our actions were the result of this, we would still not be acting freely.
• Irrational to hold people morally responsible for result of accidents or random chance
• “could have acted otherwise” result of an accident or chance (no responsibility) or casual explanation (determinism)

Question 7

Freedom Contra Causality

Answer 7

• Cannot be acting freely IF casually determined
• Nearly all actions have some causal determinant(s)
• Ex. character fundamentally shaped by past decisions events, upbringing…and healthy dose of genetic luck

Question 8

Freedom CONTRA Constraint

Answer 8

• Constrained to an action = causally determined
• However casually determined does not equal constrained to do it
• Therefore, even if casually determined we are not free
• Compelled by another person to what he/she wants
• Induce behaviour - non-compliance created even more undesirable consequence
• One event happening after another evet does not mean one caused the other

Question 9

Personal Deliberations

Answer 9

Have no effect in causal chain of events
Unlike my free actions, those of the kleptomaniac are unfree
because these have no effect on their actions

Question 10

What are the 3 necessary conditions for Free choice “Could have acted otherwise”

Answer 10

1) Should have acted otherwise if I had chosen
2) Voluntary action
3) Unconstrained action