free will and determinism evaluations

Question 1

what is a strength of free will

Answer 1

P- has practical value
E- Roberts et al(2000) looked at adolescents who had a strong belief in fatalism and saw they were at a greater risk of developing depression. People who exhibit an internal locus of control were more likely to be more optimistic
E- even if we don’t have free will, believing in it improves our mental wellbeing and health and helps us have a positive outlook on life which will make life more meaningful

Question 2

what is a limitation of free will

Answer 2

P- evidence only supports determinism

E- Libet et al asked participants to flick their wrist when they felt the will to do so. He measured brain activity while doing this and found that there was an unconscious brain activity before the conscious decision of flicking the wrist
E- shows even basic actions are actually determined by our brain before we are aware of them.

Question 3

counterpoint

Answer 3

P-

Question 4

what is a limitation of determinism

Answer 4

P- role of responsibility in law, the hard determinism stance in not compatible with our legal system
E- offenders are held responsible for their actions as the main principle of our legal system is that the defendant exercised their free will while commiting the crime

E- suggests in the real world determinist arguments don’t always work or aren’t suitable