free will

Question 1

what is hard determinism

Answer 1

• based on the concept of universal causation
  
  • nothing is random and nothing is free
• many hard determinists adopt the reductionist approach that human behaviour can be reduced to the laws of physics

Question 2

what is psychological behaviourism

Answer 2

• influenced by pavlovs dog
• watson claimed that our behaviour is conditioned by upbringing and experiences
• behaviour consists of learned responses
• skinner claims that people feel free because they are doing what they wanted

Question 3

what is theological determinism

Answer 3

• involves predestination
• gods omniscience is understood as causative and so there can be no free choice

Question 4

what is libertarianism

Answer 4

• rejects universal causation
• they accept our bodies are subject to causal laws
• they also accept that nature and nurture may exert strong influence over our moral decisions, but argue that they are not necessarily determinant
• many distinguished between the personality and moral self

Question 5

what is compatibilism

Answer 5

• argues that the dispute between hard determinists and libertarians arises out of confusing terminology
• compelled is not the same as caused, nor is free the same as uncaused
• we are free when we act according to our wishes: freedom is the ability to do what we want
• there are two kinds of causation

Question 6

what are the two kinds of causation mentioned in compatibilism

Answer 6

• external causation – synonymous with compulsion. describes factors beyond our control which determine what we do
• internal causation – synonymous with free will. this describes our temperament or personality

Question 7

how do hard determinists view reward and punishment

Answer 7

• reward and punishment are meaningless since those who break the law dont have a choice
• predestination makes them even more meaningless
• hard determinists reject the idea of retribution
• skinner suggested psychological conditioning as a way of reforming an offenders character and outlook

Question 8

how does libertarianism view reward and punishment

Answer 8

• kant and other libertarians would see retribution as the appropriate response to crime
• kants ought implies can points to freedom of choice
• some libertarians would see reform as the appropriate response

Question 9

how would compatibilism view reward and punishment

Answer 9

• compatibilists accept moral responsibility for those who could have done otherwise if they wished
• hume said that actions should only be judged as blame/praiseworthy only where ‘… there are indications of the internal character, passion and affections’