Free Will and Moral Responsibility

The idea that every event, including human actions, is a result of prior events.

The ability to make choices that are not predetermined.

The belief that free will exists and our actions are not predetermined.

The view that free will does not exist; all events, including human actions, are determined.

The idea that free will and determinism can coexist.

The principle that a person is responsible for an action only if they could have done otherwise

Argument that responsibility doesn't always require alternative possibilities.

A thought experiment illustrating Frankfurt's critique of alternative possibilities

The idea that the mind and body are two separate things; the mind is non-physical, the body physical.

Treating something in one category as if it were a member of another.

A tiny moment where a different choice could have been made, even if options are limited.

The idea that responsibility for choices can still exist, even if no alternatives exist.

The difficulty of explaining how a non-physical mind could affect a physical body.

Mental states are understood in terms of behaviors and behavioral dispositions.

Habits or tendencies to act in a certain way.

The official doctrine's error in treating the mind as a separate entity, separate from body actions.

The idea that mental events are caused by physical events in the brain but have no effect on physical events.

Everything about the mind can be explained by physical processes in the brain. Mental states are just brain states.

Mind and body are separate but can influence each other. Mind causes physical actions, and physical events cause mental experiences.

Challenges physicalism using Mary the Color Scientist. Even if Mary knows all the physical facts about color, experiencing color for the first time is a new, unique experience.

Subjective, personal experiences like the feeling of color or the taste of chocolate.

Conflict between subjective and objective views on taste. Personal preferences versus cultural norms and scientific understanding of flavors.

Personal preferences in food and flavors.

Cultural or scientific standards for taste and flavor combinations.

Hume believes we can judge art objectively by looking at experts who have delicate taste, experience, comparison skills, open minds, and good sense.

Kant argues that aesthetic judgment should be free from personal biases, desires, or practical interests. Focus on the object's beauty, not its usefulness.

Catharsis is the emotional release and purification experienced by the audience after watching a tragedy. It involves feelings of pity and fear, leading to a sense of relief.

Aristotle believes a tragedy should have a beginning, middle, and end, involving a serious and complete action of significance. It should evoke pity and fear for catharsis.

Anagnorisis is the moment a character realizes a crucial truth about themselves or their situation, often leading to a change in their fate.

Peripeteia is a sudden change in a character's fortune, often from good to bad, usually linked to anagnorisis and driving the tragic outcome.

Sisyphus is condemned to endlessly roll a boulder uphill, only for it to roll back down, symbolizing a pointless and repetitive task.

Taylor compares Sisyphus's pointless task to the lives of humans, suggesting their existence may be similarly meaningless in the face of the universe's vastness and indifference.

In Taylor's viewpoint, the endless, repetitive nature of Sisyphus' labor makes his life pointless. It has no lasting achievement or purpose. The effort he puts in is futile, resulting in no permanent outcome.

Subjective meaning is personal, like what gives you purpose. Objective meaning is universal, like a grand purpose for everyone. Taylor believes even without universal purpose, personal meaning can be found in experiences and relationships.

The idea that pleasure or happiness is the highest good and main aim of human life. Wellbeing is measured by the balance of pleasure over pain.

Wellbeing is determined by how much your desires are satisfied. It's not just about pleasure, but about getting what you want.

Certain things are inherently good for people, regardless of desires or pleasures. These include knowledge, achievement, and relationships.

Wolf believes meaningful life requires active engagement in worthwhile projects. This means being deeply involved and invested in something significant beyond personal benefit, contributing positively to the world or others.

Susan Wolf endorses Objective List Theories. She believes certain things are objectively good for us and contribute to a meaningful life, even if we don't desire them or find them pleasurable.

For a life to be meaningful, actively participate in activities or projects with real value. Be deeply involved and invested in something worthwhile and significant, not just personally, but in a broader sense.

You're responsible for your choices only if you could've chosen differently.

Analyzes mental states through observable behaviors and tendencies to act in certain ways (dispositions).

He argues the official doctrine makes a category mistake by treating the mind as a separate thing instead of focusing on how the body acts.

Frank Jackson's thought experiment involving a scientist who knows all the physical facts about color, but has never seen color. When she does, she learns something new about color experiences.

The ability to notice fine details and nuances in art, making judgments based on subtle observations.

Having seen and analyzed a wide range of art, allowing for a deeper understanding and ability to compare and contrast.

Appreciating art solely for its aesthetic qualities, free from personal biases, desires, or practical interests.

The emotional release and purification experienced by the audience after watching a tragedy, involving a cleansing of pity and fear.