Free Will And Determinism Flashcards
What is the idea of the debate?
Is behaviour selected without constraints or caused by internal/ external factors
What does free will suggest?
Suggests humans are self determining and free to choose their own thoughts and actions. Dosent Deny biology and environment has influence, but we are able to reject these forces. ~(link to humanistic)
What is determinism split into?
Hard and soft determinsm
What is hard determinism
The view that all behaviour is caused by something, internal or external. So free will is an illusion.
What is soft determinism?
James—> the view that behaviour may be predictable but there is room for personal choice from a limited range of possibilities
What is biological determinism?
Behaviour is caused by biological influences that we cannot control eg. Genetics —> autonomic NS and stress etc..
What is environmental determinism?
Behaviour is caused by features of the environment eg. Systems of reward and punishment that we cannot control
Eg. Skinner— behaviour is result of conditioning
What is psychic determinism?
Behaviour caused by unconscious psychodynamic conflicts —> Freud
Quickly describe scientific emphasis
Scientists seek to explain causes by identifying laws eg. Lab experiments which allows control of variables.
One strength is the practical value (AO3)
Strength of free will
Common sense that we exercise free choices in our everyday lives. Thinking we have free will improved mental health. Adults who believe in fatalism higher risk of developing depression. Even if we dont have free will believing is enough
One limitation is research evidence (AO3)
Limitation of free will
Brain scan research
Libet et al: instructed PPS to flick wrist at random and measured their brain activity. PPS said when they consciously made the decision. in the brain there was 1/2 second before PPS said so. Determinism even if we believe in free will
One limitation of determinism is the law (AO3)
Limitation of determinism
Hard determinism stance is that it is not individual choice as a cause of behaviour. This is not consistent with our legal system. Offenders held responsible for actions (free will to commit a crime) real world deterministic argument doesn’t work
