free will and determinism Flashcards
(23 cards)
Define determinism
the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the free will
What doctrine does determinism follow
Universal causation thesis- every physical event has a physical cause and a physical effect (physicalism)
Why do hard determinists reject moral responsibility
Determinism takes away the fault of an action as all events are th necessary outcomes of prior events that are out of out control
Explain Clarence darrows defence of leopold and loeb
Two teenagers on trial for the murder of a young child. In their defense Darrow argues that they were not responsible due to determinism. They were merely stumbling around a ‘maze of darkness’ with no control over their actions.
What is the theory of alternative possibilities, what are its implications
An action is not someones fault unless they could have done otherwise. For a determinist this disproves moral responsibility as every action we do is the NECESSARY result of precious events
How did frankfurt argue against the theory of alternative possibilities
If a democrat leaning voter is going to vote in an election, and somebody places a chip in his brain that will force him to vote deocrat if he seems to be about to vote republican. Then if he votes democrat off his own accord (the chip doesnt turn on as he doent consider voting republican) he is still morally responsible despite having no alternative possibilities
Explain skinners enviromentalism
Apsychoogical detemrinist who argued that all hman behaviour is attributed to the environment around us. We don’t have free will as we cannot change what is happening around us
Explain Sartres phenomenology
Because everything we sense is our reality. The fact that we sense having free will is enough to prove that we do infact have free agency
Explain the theory of essences, whos idea was it?
Sartres- if something has an essence (what makes it what it is) it can be determined. Humans have no essence and therefore are unpredictable.
Criticisms of sartre
Our senses can fail us- refraction makes sticks seem bent in water.
He never fully defines what an essence is
What is Robert Kanes libertarianism
Our actions are determined entirely by our character, but these actions are free if we create our own character. He calls actions based off this ‘self forming actions’
Libertarian use of quantum theory
At atomic levels there is randomness eg; radiation, and since everything is made of atoms everything must be random.
However, randomness at one level does not equate to everything being random`
Randomness criticism of libertarianism
Libertarians argue for moral responsibility, yet surely if eveything is random (including human action) this means that someone killling someone is just random and is therefore not their fault.
Causation criticism of libertarianism
Denying all physical causation is deeply troubling. It seems to be undeniably true- kicking a ball makes it move, if you kick it harder it moves more showing a corolation of events.
What is Kants theory of freedom
When we supress our animal desires and act on reason, we are slaves when we act on desire
Explain kants compatibalism
Some people have free will if they supress their animal desires. Everyone ought to do this (ought here implies can) but only some do. This argument is from the perspective of reason rather than from desires
What is Kai Nielsons definition of freedom?
How does it differ from Kants
to be free is to have the abillity and opportunity to do what one wants to do based on rational delieration.
Differs from kant as it is based on desires rather than reason
Nielsons soft determinism
Believes in physical detemrinims, but once we are force into situations we can choose to do as we wish
Cartesian criticism of physicalism
Physical determinism only works if the mind is physical. If the mind is not physical (Descartes was a dualist) our thoughtd and behaviours arent determined.
Why is a kleptomaniac not free according to Nielson
Because their decisions are not based off rational deliberation. It is an irrational want.
Explain Humes soft determinism
A cause effect view of the world is undeniable. Chance is not suggestive of free willl (anti-libertarian) as if an outside observer saw all past events, he would be able to see all future ones.
How is hume a soft determinist
He argues for moral responsibility. The concepts of punsihment and reward cause us to lean towards the ‘good’ thing to do. This means tat if the cause of an action is internal (deliberated) then one may take responsiblity.
Why does Hume see determinism as necessary for moral responsibility?
The libertarian argument for randomness takes away the power of one reflecting themselves in their actions.
