Evaluations for Free will/Determinism

Question 1

Explain how the free-will perspective has face validity?

Answer 1

People have a conscious experience of feeling like they have the ability to choose their own actions.

(Determinists would say this feeling is an illusion)

Question 2

Explain predictive power of determinism

Answer 2

Assuming that scientific principles of cause-and-effect applies to human behaviour - it can be easily predicted and influenced.

Example - Biological determinism
Symptoms of mental illness linked to neurotransmitter imbalances.

Practical application - Led to development of drug treatments to correct these imbalances.
Reducing symptoms and helping people get back to their normal lives.

Question 3

Explain Free-will vs Determinism in society ?
(Real-life application)

Answer 3

Society sees free-will to be correct.
If we accepted a hard deterministic view there could be issues.

Some may be genetically determined to have higher intelligence.
Could affect access to education/employment.

If Violent crimes can be predicted interventions may happen before crime committed.

Question 4

Assuming a behaviour is due to one factor is oversimplifying that behaviour.
What do Humanists say against this?

Answer 4

Humanists say human behaviour is more complex than being just one factor.

Behaviour impacted by biological processes - unconscious processes - environmental processes.

Reciprocal determinism

Question 5

What is reciprocal determinism?

Answer 5

Bandura
Our environment influences our actions
Our actions also shape our environment

Question 6

How does soft-determinism have face validity ?

Answer 6

We can have times when it feels like we are not in control of our actions or do things that we cannot explain why we did it.

We can also have times when we feel in control and choose our actions freely.