The Will: Willpower and Freedom

Question 1

Thought Experiment 3

Answer 1

Suppose it was predetermined that the person would order vanilla ice cream by the laws of physics. So their mental states and actions are predetermined because of THE LAWS OF PHYSICS. Suppose that PHYSICALISM IS TRUE and that everything is PHYSICAL. Suppose further that EVERY CAUSED EVENT HAS A PHYSICAL CAUSE.

Is the person choosing vanilla of their own free will?

If you answer “no,” you are incompatibilist. (They hold that the kind of determinism described is incompatible with free will.)

If you answer “yes,” you are compatibilist. (Such people see no problem in supposing both that determinism is true and that free will exists.)

Question 2

Determinism

Answer 2

Science and the assumption of determinism:

• experimental science suggests that our FREEDOM and CONSCIOUS CONTROL over our own lives is limited.

Is this correct?!