Free WIll #2

Question 1

What is the central issue that was discussed in class for the topic of free will?

Answer 1

Do we sometimes act freely?

Question 2

What are the phenomena relevant to this issue that need to be explained?

Answer 2

1. The appearance of deliberation, decision, and choice
2. Effort, focus, and gravity
3. Resistance to temptation

Question 3

List and briefly describe the 3 theories that were discussed in class and provide an account of the phenomena , stating the position each takes on the central issue as well as the key propositions the theory endorses.

Answer 3

1. DETERMINISM
   ~Every events is caused by prior events
   ~Human actions are caused by prior events
   ~no human actions are free
   ~EX: Mark punches Jacob because Jacob called him a name. Jacob then punches Mark because Mark just punched him in the face.
2. LIBERTARIANISM
   ~humans have free will
   ~no actions is free if it must occur
   ~EX: I don’t WANT to do my homework but I deliberately make a choice to do it every day
   ~some events are not caused by prior events
   ~endorses the theory of agency
3. COMPATIBILISM
   ~human actions are caused by prior events
   ~an action is free if it is not constrained by external factors
   ~EX: Mark’s mother is not home (she is the external factor), so he colors all over the walls because he wants to.
   ~some actions are free
   ~compatabilists argue for both determinism and their version of free will

Question 4

Present an argument for one of the theories (stating which theory it is an argument for).

Answer 4

DETERMINISM
~argument: Every event is caused by prior events > human actions are events > therefore, human actions are caused by prior events.

Question 5

Present and argument or one of the 3 theories (stating which theory it is an argument for). #2

Answer 5

COMPATIBILISM
~argument: an action is free if it is not constrained by external factors > some human actions are not constrained by external factors > therefore, some human actions are free.

Question 6

Explain the Thesis of Simple Indeterminism and why it is insufficient to qualify as a theory on the central issue for the topic of free will.

Answer 6

The Thesis of Simple Indeterminism claims that some events are not caused by prior events - there is at least ONE case that there is more than one possible next events. Therefore, claiming that free will is insufficient to accept.