Freewill Vs. Determinism

Question 1

Explain what the freewill debate explains

Answer 1

The assumption that we play an active role in how we behave and get to choose our behaviour. Individuals are free to choose how they behave and are self-determined.

Question 2

Explain what the determinism debate explains

Answer 2

The assumption that freewill is an illusion, our behaviour is caused by internal and external factors which we have no control.

Question 3

Explain what is meant by external factors and internal factors from the determinism debate by giving examples

Answer 3

External: influence of parents rewarding behaviour (environment)
Internal: Hormonal influence (biological)

Question 4

Explain three strengths for free will

Answer 4

• Recognises freedom of choice. gives people responsibility for their actions
• emphasises the value of subjectivity
  (emphasises the quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions)
• Even if we don’t have freewill, the mentality that we do gives us a positive mental impact

Question 5

Explain three weaknesses of freewill

Answer 5

• Difficult to test and measure
• Suggests no patterns to behaviour
• Hard to prove: if someone exercises freewill then are they just responding to a command to do so (determinism)

Question 6

Explain two strengths of determinism

Answer 6

• Having deterministic views helps the world be more understandable and predictable
• Very scientific in the way it highlights how certain factors influence us

Question 7

Explain three weaknesses of determinism

Answer 7

• Never fully explain behaviour because behaviour is too complex (determinism is reductionist)
• Treats people like ‘machines’, they cannot exercise free will
• Freewill is an illusion, we think we have a choice, but we don’t. How can others be punished if it wasn’t their fault

Question 8

What are the other types of determinism?

Answer 8

• Biological (Behaviour caused by our internal processes)
• Environmental (Behaviour caused by external factors from the environment)
• Psychic (Freud’s psychosexual stages)
• Hard (choices and behaviours are pre-determined)
• Soft (humans have some conscious mental control over the way they behave)