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Questions and Answers
What is the core assumption about free will discussed in the introduction?
What argument is presented to question the validity of free will?
In the example of the murderer forced by a kidnapper, what is highlighted about moral responsibility?
What does determinism assert about events?
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What is the main assertion of incompatibilism?
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Which scenario illustrates the idea of being forced to act against one's free will?
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What is another term often used to describe compatibilism?
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According to the ideas presented, scientists would reject which of the following about past events?
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What might lead someone to claim that they acted freely in a situation involving coercion?
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How do hard determinists view moral responsibility?
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What is a consequence of the determinist view on actions?
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What do proponents of libertarianism believe regarding free will and determinism?
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According to hard determinists, why should society punish criminals?
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What conclusion can be drawn about praise in the perspective of hard determinism?
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What is a common criticism of hard determinism among philosophers?
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How do compatibilists view the relationship between determinism and free will?
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What is the basic premise of determinism as described in the content?
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According to the Consequence Argument, what is stated about an individual's actions?
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What challenge does the problem of free will present in relation to human decisions?
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What implication arises from the idea that someone could predict human actions with knowledge of the universe's state?
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What does van Inwagen's Consequence Argument suggest about causation and free will?
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What does the determinism framework imply about blame and praise for actions?
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Which example demonstrates the deterministic viewpoint in the content?
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How does the content describe the chain of events leading to a human action?
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What does libertarianism argue about agent causation?
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How does libertarianism view the limitations of science in explaining human actions?
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What distinction does quantum physics make regarding its predictions?
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In the scenario of choosing a political party, what implication arises if the decision appears random?
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What is one unattractive option presented by libertarianism when considering human freedom?
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What is the primary belief of libertarians regarding free will and determinism?
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According to the discussion, what concept do some libertarians introduce to differentiate free actions from random events?
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How do libertarians define free actions in contrast to uncaused events?
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What is a significant challenge libertarians face when describing free will?
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Which statement best summarizes libertarianism's view on human actions compared to non-conscious entities?
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Study Notes
Introduction
- Many people believe they have free will and make choices independently.
- Free will is the ability to act without being determined by external factors.
- The text explores if free will is compatible with determinism, a scientific view suggesting that all events are caused.
Causation and Determinism
- Science points to causation, suggesting every event has a cause.
- This means there is a sequence of events leading to the current event.
- Determinism follows from causation, implying that every event is determined by previous events.
Determinism and Free Will
- Determinism applied to human actions implies that our decisions are caused by previous events.
- This suggests that our choices are predetermined by factors beyond our control, making us not truly free.
- The text uses the example of Hitler's decision to invade Poland and traces it back to previous events, illustrating the idea of predetermination.
The Problem of Free Will
- The "problem of free will" arises from the conflict between our perception of free will and the deterministic view of science.
- Science suggests that everything is causally determined, implying that our actions are also predetermined.
- The text argues that if a being had complete knowledge of the universe's initial state and laws of nature, they could predict our actions.
The Consequence Argument
- This argument illustrates the dilemma of free will:
- We cannot influence the past or the laws of nature.
- All our actions are determined by the past and laws of nature.
- Therefore, we cannot change our actions, implying we are not free.
Compatibilism and Incompatibilism
- There are two main perspectives on the relationship between free will and determinism:
- Incompatibilism: Free will and determinism are incompatible, meaning they cannot both be true.
- Compatibilism: Even if determinism is true, we can still have free will.
Hard Determinism and Libertarianism
- Incompatibilism can be divided into two viewpoints:
- Hard Determinism: Determinism is true, and we do not have free will.
- Libertarianism: We have free will, and determinism is false.
Compatibilism (Soft Determinism)
- This viewpoint reconciles free will and determinism.
- It argues that determinism is true, but we still have free will.
Hard Determinism
- Hard determinists reject the notion of free will.
- They argue that we are not responsible for our actions because they are determined by past events.
- This view could lead to a shift in moral responsibility and punishments.
- Despite this, some argue that punishing criminals remains useful for societal safety and deterrence.
- Hard determinists might suggest that even praising people for good actions is merely a tool for encouraging others.
- Ultimately, hard determinism challenges our understanding of free will and moral responsibility.
Introduction
- The problem of free will: How can we have free will if every event is caused by previous events?
- Incompatibilism: free will and determinism cannot both be true.
- Hard determinism: determinism is true, and there is no free will.
- Libertarians: we have free will, and determinism is false.
- Compatibilism: free will and determinism can both be true - our actions can be determined and free.
Libertarianism
- They are incompatibilists – they deny determinism.
- They may accept determinism for trees and planets, but humans are different.
- Libertarians say people have free will – this is the ability to make choices that aren’t completely controlled by past events.
- Libertarians need to explain what free actions are and how they happen. They don’t think free actions are entirely uncaused.
- They believe in agent causation, which is a special kind of causation that isn't determined by previous events.
- They believe the laws of physics are not always true and break down when it comes to what goes on in the human brain.
Quantum Physics
- Quantum mechanics says many events at the smallest level are fundamentally random.
- Quantum mechanics makes probabilistic predictions – we can’t be sure what will happen even if we knew everything about the situation.
- Some think this randomness creates space for human freedom.
- Events aren't wholly uncaused, but we can't completely predict them.
Summary
- Libertarians argue that our choices result from our deliberation, but this process doesn't necessarily determine our choice.
- If our choice was determined by deliberation, it would seem random.
- Some think quantum events being probabilistic makes room for human freedom.
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Description
Explore the philosophical debate surrounding free will and determinism. The quiz examines whether our choices are truly independent or influenced by preceding events. Dive into the implications of causation on human actions and the concept of predetermination.
