Conscience, free will and determinism

Question 1

Honderich on causation

Answer 1

Our actions are no more than effects of other equally necessitated events

Question 2

Hume on causation

Hume on liberty and SD

Answer 2

We know nothing farther of causation of any kind than merely the constant conjunction of objects

By liberty […] we can only mean the power of acting or not acting, according to the determinations of the will

Question 3

Ayer on constraint

Answer 3

From the fact that my action is causally determined it does not necessarily follow that I am constrained to do it

Question 4

Nielsen

Answer 4

Being under some sort of compulsion or constraint is what limits our freedom

Question 5

Chisholm’s “big point”

Answer 5

If we did not understand the concept of [agent] causation, we would not understand that of [event] causation

Question 6

Reid (inspired Chisholm’s big point)

Answer 6

The conception of an efficient cause may very probably be derived from the experience we have had […] of our own power to produce certain effects

Question 7

Sartre on thé nature of man

Answer 7

Man is nothing else but the sum of his actions

Question 8

Watson on the problems of libertarianism

Answer 8

Exercises of agent-causation would seem to be divorced from psycho-physical reality, the rationally inexplicable outbursts of a structureless substance

Question 9

The universe […] presents only matter in motion […] an uninterrupted succession of causes and effects

Answer 9

Baron d’Holbach

Question 10

James on SD

Answer 10

A quagmire of evasion

Question 11

Kant on SD

Answer 11

Wretched subterfuge

Question 12

Laplace on the demon

Answer 12

For such an intellect nothing would be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes