Free Will Intro

Question 1

Free Will

Answer 1

Ability to choose without coercion, obstacles and having alt. Possibilities and put these choices into action

Hume: our actions are free if they’re under control, freedom is ‘a power of acting or of not acting, according to the determination of the will.’

Question 2

Diff. Bet. Right and wrong

Answer 2

For one not to be held morally responsible must have two things: couldn’t help doing it and not aware action is wrong
Some not morally resp - young children, animals, mentally ill, dementia etc.

4 categories of those who cannot take full moral resp:
1. Not yet learned it
2.cannot understand
3. Permanently forgot
4. Temporarily forgot

Some arg we have innate moral sense e.g. feels right to help someone in need - basis of Hume’s approach to morality-
‘faculty of sympathy’ Hume arg. To some extent is universal - ppl learn diff bet right and wrong through religion, social contexts and innate sense of rights and wrong - faculty comes from innate sense, all ppl. Can understand moral actions even if not taught.

Learn right and wrong through social context, parents and others in society and moral principles form basis of out social life - law

See morality linked to particular cultural and social interactions- prob of multiculturalism, diff. Cultures = diff morals e.g. arranged marriage

Religious morality - each religion presents followers with fundamental moral principles and practical moral rules to define way for life.

Human brain evolved over millions of years, as became more complex took on qual. Of consciousness - gives us illusions free will but acc just witnesses of our own mind. Consciousness is an unnecessary by- product of evolution and no meaningful function in terms of survival - determinism

Question 3

Jamie Bulger killers: Jon venables and Robert Thompson

Answer 3

Poss. Did crimes because both had rough upbringing, abuse and mental disorder in family
Partially excused: many abused children who dont murder