Free Will Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is freedom?
Metaphysical freedom with the ability to make moral choices
What is libertarianism?
The belief that we are completely free and nothing is determined
What is hard determinism?
The belief that we have no autonomy whatsoever
What is soft determinism?
The belief that there are physical and physiological limits to autonomy yet we have a degree of freedom to take responsibility for our actions.
What is biological determinism?
Our behaviour is shaped by our genetic makeup or the traits that we have inherited from our parents.
What does skinner say about biological determinism to support hard determinism?
Free will is a primitive superstition that makes every human action a result of the genetic blueprint passed onto the embryo at the moment of conception
What is physical determinism?
All our actions are inevitable consequences of the past, predetermined by prior causes.
What does Einstein say about physical determinism to support hard determinism?
“Everything is determined… by forces over we have no control.”
What is John lockes analogy about free will in regards to hard determinism?
A man is locked in a room, he chooses to stay in the room not knowing it is locked. He believes he has freely chosen but has no idea that his ability is restricted
This gives the man the illusion of freedom.
What does Sam Harris say about rapists/muderers to support hard determinism?
“All rapists are unlucky” because “thoughts and intentions emerge from background causes of which we are unaware”.
They have a combination of bad genes, parents and poor environment, these factors “determine his character”.
How does Daniel Dennet support soft determinism?
Humans have evolved to develop the ability to be free despite living in a deterministic universe, as free will is an “evolved creation of human activity”. Development of culture and language set humans apart from other species
How does Richard Dawkins support soft determinism?
Refers to memes, passed down from one person to another. We “have to defy the selfish genes of our birth”.
Genetic and environmental influences can be reversed.
What does the Mosiac law say about free will?
“You were called to be free”
What does Augustine say about free will?
All evil, is the result of of Adam and eves decision to disobey god, and god will continue to judge individuals on how they use their free will.
