Free will and Dereminism Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is the free will versus determinism debate?
The debate explores the extent to which our thoughts and behaviour are influenced by forces beyond our conscious control.
What is determinism?
The view that human behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces and free will is an illusion.
What are causal explanations?
One of the basic principles of science is that everything has a cause and thus can be predicted.
What is hard determinism?
The view that forces outside of our control (e.g biology or experience) shape our behaviour and free will is an illusion.
What is soft determinism?
The view that behaviour is constrained by environmental or biological forces but only to a certain extent and there is an element of free will in behaviour.
What is biological determinism?
The idea that human behaviour is innate and determined by biological influences such as genetics.
What is environmental determinism?
Behaviour is caused by external forces such as previous experience and learning through classical and operant conditioning.
What is psychic determinism?
Claims that behaviour is the result of innate drives (such as the ID, EGO and SuperEGO) and unconscious conflicts.
What is free will?
The notion that humans have an active role and can make choices about how they behave. Behaviour is not determined by internal or external forces.
