Free Will

Question 1

Define Determinism

Answer 1

the theory that the future is determined by the past, at least to a certain extent

Question 2

What would be true in a deterministic world?

Answer 2

• we still make our own choices, but depending on the past we are determined to make one particular choice and
• future is limited based on circumstances based on the past

Question 3

Define free will

Answer 3

• It is up to us and only us to choose our actions
• in any case scenario, we have the freedom to choose whatever we like, and we could have done other than the choices we made in the past

Question 4

What is the problem with free will and determinsim?

Answer 4

• If determinism is true, then the future is not open, nor do we have true power over it
• because of our past, only one future is open to us, whatever we choose could not have been otherwise, therefore no free will

Question 5

Define compatabilism

Answer 5

Free will can exist at the same time as determinism

Question 6

Define incompatabilism

Answer 6

Free will and determinism cannot exist at the same time

Question 7

Define Fatalism

Answer 7

The belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inescpabale

Question 8

Define hard determinism

Answer 8

• the future is causally determined by the past, and causal determinism is incompatible with free will, therefore free will does not exist
• free will requires absolute control over the future. We do not have this

Question 9

What is causal determinism?

Answer 9

• the past causes the future, and this causal link determines the future
• the cause of an event must happen prior to the event
• causes are sufficient conditions for bringing about their effects

Question 10

Why does causal determinism strengthen the argument for hard determinism?

Answer 10

• causal determinism suggests that all events are determined by prior events, but if all events are causally determined, we have no control over what happens, therefore no free will

Question 11

What is the principle of sufficient reason?

Answer 11

• the claim that anything that happens does so for a definite reason
• poses serious issue against free will

Question 12

What is an example of the principle of sufficient reason?

Answer 12

If a tree falls over, there must have been something that caused it to be knocked down, such as strong winds or a strike of lightning

Question 13

Why are consequences for responsibility a problem for hard determinism

Answer 13

• we do hold each other morally responsible for our actions
• if hard determinism is true, however, then everything we do is determined by the past, we could not have done otherwise
• therefore how can we praise or blame anyone for what they do?

Question 14

What was Galen Strawson’s basic argument?

Answer 14

1. we do what we do because of our character
2. we are not truly responsible for developing our character (education, parents, external circumstances)
   Therefore: we are not fully responsible for what we do

Question 15

Define indeterminism

Answer 15

• the belief that the future is not fixed by the past
• challenges the notion that all events are causally determined by prior events
• the same past can lead to different futures

Question 16

What may support the idea of indeterminsim?

Answer 16

• supported by recent discoveries in physics

Question 17

What are the main problems that indeterminism faces?

Answer 17

• suggests that actions are random events, however no one should be held responsible for something that happens randomly
• in order to be genuinely free, we need complete control over our actions, if actions are random we cannot have this
• turns our actions into unpredictable and uncontrollable events

Question 18

In the compatibilist view, what is freedom of action vs freedom of the will?

Answer 18

• Because compatibilists still hold determinism as true they still believe that events, including our desires/choices/actions are causally determined
• however we are free when we are free to act on these desires, even if said desires were causally determined
• we can have freedom of action without freedom of the will

Question 19

Define traditional compatabilism

Answer 19

• all actions are causally determined
• but, we are free when we can do what we want without constraint by outside forces
• views “could have done otherwise” hypotheticaly

Question 20

What is a major problem with traditional compatibilism?

Answer 20

• some of our desires are not identical with our will
• do not align with what we truly want because some desires may be imposed on us
• therefore calls upon deep self compatabilism

Question 21

Define deep self compatabilism - Harry G. Frankfurt

Answer 21

• we are free as long as we act on our authentic desires

Question 22

What are authentic desires?

Answer 22

• desires we truly wish to act
• dependent on what happens inside us
• desires imposed on us by outside forces are inauthentic and, therefore not of free will

Question 23

What are the major problems for compatibilism

Answer 23

• determinism and free will may not be compatible, as the existence of determinism would make it impossible to hold people responsible for their actions

Question 24

What is Peter van Inwagen’s consequence argument?

Answer 24

1. No one has power over the past and nature’s laws
2. our actions are the necessary consequences of the past and the laws of nature
3. if we have no power over X, we have no power over the future necessary consequences of X
   Therefore:
4. We have no power over our future actions
5. In order to be responsible for our future actions, we must have power over our future actions
   Therefore:
6. we are not responsible for our future actions

Question 25

Define libertarianism

Answer 25

- branch of indeterminism - believes that the future is entirely open, and we hold the power to shape it - the same past can lead to different futures - believes there is something special about human beings

Question 26

What is the test of free will in the libertarian perspective

Answer 26

- an action that is done with free will is one in which the agent could have done otherwise (no history behind it, genuine options) - a decision can set different possibilities for the future

Question 27

What are some things that support the argument for libertarianism?

Answer 27

- aligns with what we intuitively feel is true - aligns with the assignment of moral responsibility - aligns with the existence of original inventions and innovation - determinism has not been proven as true

Question 28

What is event causation?

Answer 28

- the process of one event leading to another - true for physical events in the natural world - causally determined

Question 29

What is agent causation?

Answer 29

- an agent (or human) can act without prior events necessitating the agent's action - the agent can act spontaneously and cause anything to happen

Question 30

Why is the concept of an "agent" problematic?

Answer 30

- may not be a legitimate metaphysical addition - libertarianism requires a "self" as an agent, which on its own poses some problems

Question 31

What are some of the main arguments against libertarianism?

Answer 31

- libertarianism holds that we are fully responsible for what we do, but that does not align with how we assign responsibility in day to day - for example, we do not hold people responsible for things such as a mental illness that may cause a person to act in a certain way - additionally, libertarianism makes free actions seem akin to miracles, because it interrupts the natural order of causes and happens without any prior event, therefore no explanation as to why

Question 32

What is an example that illustrates freedom of action vs freedom of the will

Answer 32

- if you were to walk by a homeless man who asks you for money so he may survive, and you choose to hand over all the money you have, then that was freedom of action - it was not necessarily freedom of the will as this was causally determined by the man asking for money, but it was still a free choice, therefore a free action