Week 1 (lecture 1 and 2)

Question 1

What is the ethical reason related to free will?

Answer 1

The ethical reason relates to the belief that individuals can be held morally responsible for their actions.

Question 2

What is the existential reason connected to free will?

Answer 2

The existential reason for valuing free will relates to how people experience meaning, agency, and authenticity in their lives. When individuals believe they have control over their choices, they feel more responsible for their actions, and their lives feel more meaningful and purposeful. Without free will, people may feel like their actions are predetermined, leading to feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or nihilism.

Question 3

Why do some people deny that we have free will?

Answer 3

Some people deny free will because they believe that everything is determined; that is every event including human actions is determined by preceding events.

Question 4

Which historical period saw a prevalence of deterministic views among philosophers?

Answer 4

The Early Modern period in Western philosophy roughly from 1600 to 1800 saw a prevalence of deterministic views among philosophers.

Question 5

What major philosophical and societal changes were philosophers of the Early Modern period responding to?

Answer 5

Philosophers were responding to upheavals in science religion and politics and their ideas contributed to the foundations of modern science secularism capitalism and liberal democratic politics.

Question 6

What is Thomas Hobbes’ view on determinism as expressed in Leviathan?

Answer 6

Hobbes suggests that every act of man’s will proceeds from some cause and that cause from another cause creating a continual chain of necessity.

Question 7

What did Baruch Spinoza assert about nature in his Ethics?

Answer 7

Spinoza claimed that everything in nature happens out of necessity, not by chance or randomness. He believed that God and Nature are the same (Deus sive Natura), and because God is a rational and necessary being, everything that exists must follow from this divine nature in a fixed, logical order. In other words, nothing in the universe is accidental — everything that happens is the result of a chain of causes that ultimately stems from the nature of God/Nature itself.

Question 8

What is Immanuel Kant’s position on causality and free will?

Answer 8

Kant held that we must presuppose that every event is determined by a cause; if not science would be impossible and we wouldn’t be able to make sense of the world.

Question 9

How does Kant describe the impact of allowing undetermined events in relation to empirical truth?

Answer 9

Kant argues that if we allow events to happen without a cause (i.e. undetermined), then we lose the idea that nature follows universal and necessary laws. This would make it impossible to have reliable scientific knowledge, because empirical truth (truth based on observation and experience) depends on the assumption that everything has a cause and follows natural laws.

Question 10

How might different views about free will affect our understanding of ethics and existential experiences?

Answer 10

Different views about free will can shape how we perceive moral responsibility and our sense of control over life influencing both ethical considerations and existential feelings.

Question 11

What form of governance and societal structure does the Early Modern period’s philosophical development guide towards?

Answer 11

The philosophical developments of the Early Modern period laid the foundations for liberal democratic politics.

Question 12

Who is Immanuel Kant and what are his years of birth and death?

Answer 12

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who lived from 1724 to 1804.

Question 13

What is the central idea regarding determinism held by Hobbes Spinoza and Kant?

Answer 13

Hobbes believes the world is deterministic because it is material and governed by laws of cause and effect. Spinoza believes it is deterministic because all things are preordained by God. Kant argues that while we do not know if the world is deterministic we must presuppose it for understanding nature.

Question 14

What is Kant’s view on determinism regarding natural science and moral reasoning?

Answer 14

Kant asserts that for the purpose of natural science—encompassing both physics and psychology—we must presuppose that the world is deterministic. Conversely for moral reasoning we must presuppose the existence of free will.

Question 15

Does Kant believe that the scientific view and the moral view are equally true or objective?

Answer 15

No Kant believes that neither the scientific view nor the moral view is more objective or true than the other.

Question 16

What is the significance of causation in relation to determinism as discussed in the text?

Answer 16

Causation which is part of metaphysics is critical as it posits that every event has a prior cause that determines it leading to the understanding that every event is determined and could not have happened otherwise.

Question 17

What does the argument for determinism entail according to the text?

Answer 17

The argument for determinism includes two premises: Premise 1 states that every event is determined and could not have happened otherwise. Premise 2 states that human actions are events like any other. The conclusion follows that every human action is determined and could not have happened otherwise.

Question 18

What structure does the argument for determinism take and what is its validity?

Answer 18

The argument is a syllogism structured as: ‘Every x is F Every y is an x Therefore every y is F.’ It is considered valid if the premises are true the conclusion must also be true.

Question 19

What is a syllogism and how is it relevant to the discussion of determinism?

Answer 19

A syllogism is a logical argument that derives a conclusion from two premises. It is relevant to the determinism discussion as it logically connects premises about events and human actions to support the claim that all events including human actions are determined.

Question 20

What might a critic of the determinism argument question regarding the premises?

Answer 20

A critic might question the second premise positing that human actions might be fundamentally different from other events implying that they are not determined in the same way.

Question 21

What is metaphysics and how does it relate to the discussion of causation?

Answer 21

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that explores the fundamental nature of reality including questions regarding existence and causation which are pivotal to understanding deterministic views.

Question 22

Can you give an example of a prior cause leading to an effect related to cause and effect?

Answer 22

An example is that water boils when it is brought to a temperature of 100°C at 1 atmosphere of pressure; the prior cause (temperature reaching 100°C) directly leads to the effect (water boiling).

Question 23

What is the significance of free will in human actions according to the text?

Answer 23

Free will is significant because it suggests that individuals can think about their actions before making decisions which distinguishes human actions from other events like a cloud deciding to rain.

Question 24

How do determinists view human thoughts in relation to physical events?

Answer 24

Determinists argue that human thoughts are physical events occurring as brain activity and thus are subject to the laws of physics just like any other event.

Question 25

What is the illusion that determinists claim we experience regarding our decisions?

Answer 25

Determinists claim that the feeling of making choices freely is merely an illusion similar to how a conscious leaf may falsely believe it is choosing its direction in the wind.

Question 26

Who is Ludwig Wittgenstein and what was his comparison regarding free will?

Answer 26

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) compared the experience of a conscious leaf being blown by the wind to human perception of free will suggesting that like the leaf we may wrongly believe we are making independent choices.

Question 27

What analogy does Arthur Schopenhauer use regarding free will in his work 'Essay on the Freedom of the Will'?

Answer 27

Schopenhauer uses the analogy of water suggesting that while it can describe various active states it can take it often remains still in a pond illustrating the concept of potential versus actualization in relation to freedom.

Question 28

What is the difference between rational argument and rhetoric as discussed in the text?

Answer 28

Rational argument seeks truth through reasoned discourse while rhetoric (often likened to sophistry) leans on persuasion without necessarily being truthful prioritizing emotional appeal or cleverness over substance.

Question 29

What did Socrates believe a philosopher is?

Answer 29

Socrates defined a philosopher as someone who is genuinely and sincerely searching for wisdom contrasting them with those who claim to already possess it.

Question 30

What was Socrates' criticism of Sophists?

Answer 30

Socrates criticized Sophists for their focus on persuasion rather than truth claiming that they would use dishonest means to convince others employing clever language or emotional manipulation instead of reasoned arguments.

Question 31

Describe the analogy Socrates makes between rhetoric and cookery in the dialogue 'Gorgias'.

Answer 31

Socrates argues that rhetoric is to reasoning as cookery is to medicine meaning that while cookery feigns to know the best food for health rhetoric pretends to possess wisdom on matters such as morality without truthfulness.

Question 32

What does the term 'sophistry' imply in the context of Socratic philosophy?

Answer 32

'Sophistry' carries a pejorative connotation referring to the misleading use of rhetoric by Sophists who prioritize persuasion over seeking genuine truth in philosophical discussions.

Question 33

What was the context of the competition mentioned in Plato's Gorgias involving the physician and the cook?

Answer 33

In the dialogue 'Gorgias' Plato discusses a competition between a physician and a cook judged by children or men lacking the sophistication to truly judge food quality. The implication is that the physician who understands health and nutrition may be deemed unfit compared to the cook who merely prepares tasty dishes highlighting the difference between knowledge of beneficial food versus merely palatable food.

Question 34

What are the two possible debates presented by determinists in response to the belief in free will?

Answer 34

The first argument suggests that considering human actions outside the realm of causes and effects contradicts scientific understanding as we are evolved organisms subject to natural laws. The second argument posits that the belief in free will might only be a cultural phenomenon influenced by certain ideologies such as Christianity or Liberal Democracy.

Question 35

How does modern physics relate to the concept of determinism?

Answer 35

Modern physics does not strictly assume a deterministic universe. Although classical physics often implies a deterministic worldview contemporary understandings in quantum mechanics introduce elements of uncertainty and randomness challenging a purely deterministic interpretation.

Question 36

What perspective do Stoic philosophers have on free will according to the text?

Answer 36

Stoic philosophers like Epictetus emphasized that overemphasizing free will can lead to unnecessary pain. They argued that individuals should accept events as they occur rather than attempting to control them expressing that harmony comes from wanting things to happen as they do.

Question 37

How does Taoist philosophy view the concept of action and free will?

Answer 37

Taoist philosophy teaches that life consists of natural and spontaneous changes suggesting that individuals should not resist these changes. Instead they should allow reality to unfold as it naturally would as resistance leads to sorrow.

Question 38

What is the allegory shared by Hildegard of Bingen regarding free will?

Answer 38

Hildegard of Bingen shares an allegory where a king commands a feather to fly. The feather moves not by its own power but through the air's force symbolizing how humans might be guided by a higher power (the breath of God) rather than exercising free will independently.

Question 39

What cultural factors are implied to influence the perception of free will among different societies?

Answer 39

The perception of free will is influenced by cultural factors such as religious beliefs particularly in Christianity which emphasizes individual choice and freedom and democratic values that highlight personal liberties compared to other cultures or philosophies like Stoicism and Taoism which may not prioritize the same concepts of free will.

Question 40

How might a determinist argue against the subjective feeling of free will?

Answer 40

A determinist might argue that the subjective feeling of free will could be a product of cultural conditioning and societal values rather than an indication of actual autonomy in decision-making. They could suggest this feeling is limited to societies that promote individualism or free will ideologies.

Question 41

What is the main philosophical tension explored in this text regarding free will and determinism?

Answer 41

The main philosophical tension explored is between the intuitively felt experience of free will and the determinist perspective that asserts all actions are determined by prior causes within a scientific understanding of the universe including biological and physical laws.

Question 42

What is determinism?

Answer 42

Determinism is the philosophical view that all events including human actions are determined by prior causes meaning that every human action is determined and could not have happened otherwise.

Question 43

What does Holbach mean by the metaphor 'Mans life is a line that nature commands him to describe upon the surface of the earth'?

Answer 43

Holbach uses this metaphor to suggest that human lives follow a predetermined path dictated by nature implying that individuals have no choice or control over their fate.

Question 44

According to Holbach what factors contribute to a person's lack of free will?

Answer 44

Holbach argues that people are born without their own consent that their organization (biological makeup) is not in their control that their ideas come involuntarily and that their habits are shaped by external forces.

Question 45

What are the key ideas presented in the rhetoric of Holbach's argument?

Answer 45

Holbach's rhetoric suggests a compelling and persuasive narrative about determinism; it raises the question of whether nature can truly 'command' and whether this kind of language effectively influences people's beliefs about free will.

Question 46

What is the Consequence Argument against free will proposed by Peter van Inwagen?

Answer 46

The Consequence Argument states that if determinism is true then our actions are inevitable consequences of prior laws of nature and events. Since these prior events are not under our control our actions are also not under our control.

Question 47

List the premises and conclusion of the Consequence Argument as proposed by van Inwagen.

Answer 47

Premises: 1. If X is outside your control then anything that is an inevitable consequence of X is also outside your control. 2. My actions now are inevitable consequences of things that happened in the past. 3. Those things that happened in the past were outside my control. Conclusion: Therefore my actions now are outside my control.

Question 48

What implications does the Consequence Argument have regarding the nature of free will?

Answer 48

If the premises of the Consequence Argument hold true then it implies that individuals do not possess free will as their decisions and actions are simply the result of a chain of preceding causes beyond their control.

Question 49

What might happen to the Consequence Argument if the world is not deterministic?

Answer 49

If the world is not deterministic then the inevitability of past events may not apply potentially leaving room for individual control over present actions thereby raising questions about the nature of free will.

Question 50

How does Holbach's perspective suggest that external influences affect human decision-making?

Answer 50

Holbach posits that external influences—including societal biological and environmental factors—shape human decision-making processes suggesting that individuals are continually modified by causes outside their control.

Question 51

What is the significance of the phrase 'over which he has no control' in Holbach's argument?

Answer 51

This phrase emphasizes the lack of agency individuals have over their own actions as it highlights how individuals are subject to external forces that dictate their choices and behaviors.

Question 52

What are the key components of the argument against free will?

Answer 52

The key components typically include determinism compatibilism vs incompatibilism and the implications of neuroscience on decision-making. Determinism argues that all events are predetermined by existing conditions while compatibilism suggests that free will can coexist with determinism.

Question 53

What could someone show to defeat the argument against free will?

Answer 53

To defeat the argument against free will one could provide evidence that supports the existence of random non-determined choices that individuals can make. This might include quantum mechanics insights the subjective experience of making choices or empirical studies showing variability in decision-making that isn't explained by prior causes.

Question 54

What two reasons were mentioned for why the question of free will matters?

Answer 54

1. Moral Responsibility: If humans lack free will the basis for moral responsibility may be undermined affecting ethics and law. 2. Personal Identity: The question of free will shapes our understanding of personal identity and self-concept as it influences how we perceive ourselves and our autonomy.

Question 55

How does the argument against free will impact ethics and moral responsibility?

Answer 55

If free will is an illusion it challenges the foundation of moral responsibility because individuals may not be accountable for their actions if those actions are determined by external factors beyond their control.

Question 56

What is the relationship between neuroscience and the free will debate?

Answer 56

Neuroscience examines brain activity preceding conscious decisions suggesting that our decisions may be made unconsciously before we are aware of them. This has led some to argue that our experience of making choices is merely an illusion impacting claims of free will.

Question 57

What is the difference between compatibilism and incompatibilism?

Answer 57

Compatibilism holds that free will and determinism are compatible and that individuals can be held responsible for their actions even in a determined world. Incompatibilism on the other hand argues that if determinism is true then free will cannot exist thus eliminating moral responsibility.

Question 58

Why is the subjective experience of choice important in the debate on free will?

Answer 58

The subjective experience of choice is important because it shapes our understanding of agency and autonomy. It offers an insight into how individuals perceive their capacity to choose differently and feel responsible for their actions constituting a significant counterpoint to deterministic arguments.

Question 59

What role does philosophy play in addressing the questions surrounding free will?

Answer 59

Philosophy provides frameworks for understanding concepts such as moral agency consciousness identity and the nature of reality which are essential in dissecting the complexities of the free will debate. Philosophers also engage in analyzing the implications of various viewpoints on free will.

Question 60

How do different cultural or religious beliefs influence views on free will?

Answer 60

Cultural and religious beliefs can greatly influence views on free will with some traditions emphasizing predestination and divine control while others may promote the idea of personal choice and accountability. These beliefs shape moral frameworks and community norms regarding behavior.

Question 61

What is determinism and how is it relevant to the discussion of free will?

Answer 61

Determinism is the philosophical concept that every event including human actions is determined by preceding events in accordance with the natural laws. It's relevant because it challenges the notion of free will by suggesting that choices are not truly free but rather the product of prior causes.

Question 62

What is hard determinism?

Answer 62

Hard determinism is the view that all human actions are determined by prior causes which leads to the conclusion that free will does not exist. It asserts that given a specific set of conditions every event including human actions must occur as it does and could not have happened differently.

Question 63

How does hard determinism differ from the belief that all human actions are determined and the belief that there is no free will?

Answer 63

Hard determinism asserts that because all human actions are determined there is no free will. While one might think that 'all human actions are determined' and 'there is no free will' convey the same idea hard determinism specifically argues the causal relationship that if determinism is true then free will must be false.

Question 64

What is soft determinism or compatibilism?

Answer 64

Soft determinism also known as compatibilism is the view that free will and determinism are compatible. It means that although human actions are determined by prior causes individuals can still possess free will in their actions as long as those actions are not coerced.

Question 65

What is incompatibilism?

Answer 65

Incompatibilism is the philosophical view that free will and determinism cannot coexist. It argues that if human actions are determined by causes then free will cannot exist and conversely if free will exists then human actions cannot be determined.

Question 66

Who are Holbach and van Inwagen?

Answer 66

Holbach and van Inwagen are philosophers who hold the position of incompatibilism arguing that if human actions are influenced by prior causes true free will cannot exist.

Question 67

Define classical free will theory. How does it relate to libertarianism?

Answer 67

Classical free will theory is the view that human actions are not determined by prior causes asserting that individuals have true free will. This perspective is also referred to as libertarianism although it should not be confused with the political philosophy sharing the same name.

Question 68

What are the two premises of determinism as presented in the argument?

Answer 68

The two premises of determinism stated in the argument are: 1) Every event is determined and could not have happened otherwise than it did and 2) Human actions are events like any other. The conclusion drawn is that every human action is determined and could not have occurred differently.

Question 69

What challenge does modern physics pose to the deterministic worldview?

Answer 69

Modern physics particularly in the context of developments in the 20th and 21st centuries has cast doubt on the deterministic worldview by suggesting that not all events are predetermined indicating that some events may occur by chance or randomness.

Question 70

Explain how randomness is considered in the context of free will. Why might randomness not enhance the concept of freedom?

Answer 70

In the context of free will randomness refers to events that are not determined allowing for the possibility that an action could happen or not happen. However if actions are random they may be likened to being controlled by chance (like a dice throw) which does not equate to true freedom. Randomness does not enhance freedom because it can still leave choices outside of an individual's control similar to deterministic influences.

Question 71

What does it mean for actions to be non-random yet influenced by probability?

Answer 71

When actions are described as non-random yet influenced by probability it means that some outcomes are more likely than others based on certain conditions or properties. For instance one outcome may have a 70% likelihood while another has a 30% likelihood similar to being guided by a weighted die rather than pure chance.

Question 72

What is the Consequence Argument in relation to free will?

Answer 72

The Consequence Argument posits that if an action (X) is outside someone's control then any inevitable consequences arising from that action are also outside of that person's control. This relates to the broader debate on whether actions can truly be free if they are determined by prior events.

Question 73

What are the two premises of the Consequence Argument?

Answer 73

Premise 1: If X is outside your control then anything that is an inevitable consequence of X is also outside your control. Premise 2: My actions now are either inevitable consequences of things that happened in the past or they are random.

Question 74

How does Hume relate to the discussion of free will?

Answer 74

David Hume argues that if our actions are not determined they cannot be considered our true actions and therefore cannot be morally judged. Hume is a compatibilist believing that actions can be determined yet still free.

Question 75

What is Benjamin Libet's experiment and its significance in the context of free will?

Answer 75

Benjamin Libet's experiment suggests that decisions may be preceded by a chain of biological events in the brain implying that there may not be true free will in our decision-making processes as actions may be determined by prior neural activity.

Question 76

What is the 'no third way' argument against free will?

Answer 76

The 'no third way' argument states that if an action is caused by something it is not free; but if it is not caused at all it is random and also not free. Thus there seems to be no way for an action to be both caused and free.

Question 77

How can the 'no third way' argument be challenged regarding the concept of causality?

Answer 77

The argument can be contested by examining situations where the cause and effect occur simultaneously such as water boiling at 100°C. This could suggest that premise 1 ('A cause is always prior to its effect') is false thereby undermining the argument.

Question 78

What is the revised premise in the second version of the 'no third way' argument?

Answer 78

The revised premise states: Premise 1: A cause is always distinct from its effect. This maintains that while causes and effects are related they are not the same entity.

Question 79

What are the implications of Hume's claim that if actions are not determined we cannot be morally judged for them?

Answer 79

This claim implies that the very essence of moral responsibility hinges on our actions being determined. If they are not determined then the concept of moral accountability may lose its significance.

Question 80

In the context of the free will debate what does compatibilism argue?

Answer 80

Compatibilism argues that free will and determinism are not mutually exclusive meaning that it is possible to believe that actions can be determined by prior causes while still maintaining that individuals have the capacity to make free choices.

Question 81

What are the potential weaknesses of the premise that a cause is always prior to its effect?

Answer 81

Potential weaknesses include examples where the cause and effect occur simultaneously challenging the traditional understanding of causation and suggesting the need for a more nuanced approach to the relationship between cause and effect.

Question 82

What are the two options discussed regarding events that occur?

Answer 82

Events are either caused by something else or not caused at all.

Question 83

What is the classical free will theorist's perspective on free human actions?

Answer 83

Classical free will theorists might argue that free human actions exist in a third category distinct from being determined or random although what this third category precisely is remains unclear.

Question 84

What does the 'it was always to be' argument suggest about future events?

Answer 84

The argument posits that if it's true at any past time that an event will occur in the future then it implies inevitability regarding that event.

Question 85

What are the implications of saying that a statement about the future is true today?

Answer 85

If a statement about the future such as 'B.G. will go to the shops at 6 PM today' is true at 9 AM it suggests that the event was predetermined to happen.

Question 86

What is Aristotle's perspective on the truth of future statements?

Answer 86

According to Aristotle the truth of future events can be ambiguous and before something happens there may be no true or false status regarding whether it will happen.

Question 87

What is the 'sea-battle' example used to illustrate in philosophical discussions?

Answer 87

The 'sea-battle' example demonstrates the notion that either there will be a sea-battle tomorrow or there won't highlighting the constraints on truth regarding future events.

Question 88

What is the view some classical free will theorists hold regarding statements about future events?

Answer 88

Some classical free will theorists may deny the premise that there is a definite truth to future states arguing instead that statements about future events only become true once the events occur.

Question 89

What does 'biting the bullet' refer to in philosophical discussions?

Answer 89

'Biting the bullet' refers to accepting the strange or unacceptable implications of a philosophical position without trying to avoid them.

Question 90

What does the dilemma of determinism imply about the concept of free will?

Answer 90

The dilemma of determinism implies that some philosophical arguments suggest free will might not exist as the concept itself may not make sense regardless of whether determinism is true.

Question 91

What do compatibilists argue regarding free will?

Answer 91

Compatibilists claim that a certain understanding of free will is incoherent specifically that of free will requiring absolute independence from deterministic factors.

Question 92

What is the consequence argument in the context of free will?

Answer 92

The consequence argument implies that if my actions are determined by prior causes or events that are outside my control then I cannot be held morally responsible for those actions as responsibility presupposes a degree of control over one's actions.

Question 93

What are the two main reasons given for the importance of having free will?

Answer 93

1. We like to feel that it makes sense to hold people morally responsible for their actions. 2. We like to feel that we are in control of our lives.

Question 94

What does the no third way argument suggest about actions and control?

Answer 94

The no third way argument suggests that either my actions are caused by external factors (outside my control) or they are random occurrences (also outside my control). In either case this implies that I cannot be held morally responsible for actions that are not within my control.

Question 95

What is implied by the phrase 'it was always to be' regarding free will?

Answer 95

The 'it was always to be' argument implies that every action I take was predetermined thus I could not have chosen differently. This challenges the concept of moral responsibility as it suggests we cannot be held accountable for actions we were always destined to take.

Question 96

What is the first premise of the argument for free will regarding compulsion?

Answer 96

Premise 1 states that if there was no free will there would be no distinction between actions done under compulsion (like those of a severely addicted person) and those that are not compelled.

Question 97

What is the second premise that supports the conclusion of free will?

Answer 97

Premise 2 asserts that there is a significant difference between actions taken under compulsion and those taken freely. This distinction leads to the conclusion that free will must exist.

Question 98

How does the idea of being in control of one’s life relate to free will?

Answer 98

The belief that we are in control of our lives supports the idea of free will; if our actions and choices are predetermined or random then we cannot claim true control over our lives and decisions.

Question 99

Why can’t we be morally responsible for actions outside of our control?

Answer 99

Because moral responsibility implies a level of agency and control over one’s choices; if our actions result from external causes or randomness we lack the necessary control to be held accountable for those actions.

Question 100

How does the concept of addiction relate to the discussion of free will?

Answer 100

Addiction often results in compulsive behavior that can lead to the conclusion that an individual lacks free will in those moments. This distinction emphasizes the need for free will to differentiate between actions taken under genuine compulsion versus those made freely.

Question 101

What might those who deny free will say about Premise 2 in the argument for free will?

Answer 101

They might argue that Premise 2 is begging the question meaning it assumes what it is trying to prove which is just as questionable as the conclusion.

Question 102

How do those who deny free will view the feeling of free will held by many people?

Answer 102

They accept that many people feel deeply that they have free will but they believe that this feeling is an illusion.

Question 103

What is the implication of the belief held by those who deny free will regarding relevant differences?

Answer 103

They would argue that there is actually no difference or at least not a relevant difference between those who feel they have free will and the argument against it.

Question 104

What does it mean for a premise to be 'begging the question'?

Answer 104

It means that the premise assumes the truth of the conclusion without providing evidence for it effectively using circular reasoning.

Question 105

In the context of the debate on free will why is the feeling of having free will considered an illusion by some philosophers?

Answer 105

Because these philosophers believe that the subjective experience of making choices does not align with determinism or the lack of autonomy in decision-making.