Free will and determinism Flashcards
What are the 3 views held by philosophers on Free will and Determinism
Hard Determinism - incompatibilism
Libertarianism - incompatibilism
Soft Determinism - compatibilism
Monism definition and 2 types
Dualism definition
the belief that the universe is made of one thing
Materialism/physicalism: the belief that the only thing in the universe is physical substance- matter, atoms etc.
Idealism: the belief that the only thing in the universe is ideas
Dualism- the belief that the universe is made of two distinct kinds of substances
Libertarianism definition
The view that, metaphysically, humans have the ability to act freely.
Most common form of Libertarianism and philosophers who argued this
Mind-body dualism - we have both a physical body and an immortal soul that isn’t part of the physical universe and so not subject to causation. Rene Descartes stated that thoughts don’t occupy physical space but instead occupy ‘mind-space’. The mind and body are therefore different substances which interact in some way (Cartesian dualism). Plato and Aristotle both believed in differing views of Dualism.
Philosophers and arguments for Libertarianism
Psychologists, such as Maslow.
Jean-Paul Sartre - existentialist freedom
Rene Descartes, Plato and Aristotle - Dualism
CA Campbell - The Moral Self
Van Inwagen
Argument for Free Will (Libertarianism) using Primary mover unmoved
Primary mover unmoved (‘causa sui’ - cause of itself) first event of chain of universal causation: All forms of Libertarianism involve a gap in universal causation which dualists argue underlies the very premise of primary mover unmoved and the gap occurs because events are caused by mind/soul (primary mover) which is unmoved and undetermined by physical events and they set off new chain in physical world and this is in theory, empirically verifiable.
criticism: In practice, not scientifically testable claim as we don’t have the technology or techniques required to observe whether gap has occurred and raises questions of where did these decisions which cause entirely new chains come from and how they occur.
Sartre’s argument for Libertarianism and 2 criticisms
Existentialism- a non-dualist argument. States that existence precedes essence and there is no universal human nature so we aren’t born with a set purpose like objects. We can choose what we wish to be or our essence is formed by our choices, therefore humanity is essentially condemned to be free and this is the universal human condition.
criticism: can simply deny the claim that we have no essence as a materialist would state that you only have a physical brain and this is your essence as it defines how you behave and this also determines your existence, hence you have no freedom. Also, Sartre doesn’t explicitly state why our human existence should precede our essence.
Van Inwagen’s argument for Libertarianism
The sense of acting freely is overwhelming and so a valid reason to refute Hard Determinism
Campbell’s argument for Libertarianism
Principle of alternative possibilities: Argues that free will does exist as long as they could have done otherwise given exactly the same beliefs, desires, motives, etc. If determinism is true, then it is never the case that one could have done otherwise in this sense. He says that since the moral agent feels free and genuinely believes they could’ve acted alternatively, we must trust his or her experience of making that choice and if we don’t there can’t be any genuine moral responsibility. Argued that free choice must involve an effort of the will and only choices made from duty are uncaused as they overcame temptation.
Maslow’s argument for Libertarianism
Argue that freedom in our behaviour and actions is possible and necessary if we are to become fully functioning humans. He focuses on the idea of self-actualisation and sees it as a need and form of motivation for humans which sets us apart from other sentient beings.
Criticism of Libertarian view of mind-body dualism
Incoherence of Interactionism: The ambiguity of how these two entirely different substances are able to interact is an issue for determinists.
A strength of Libertarianism
It saves a genuine sense of moral responsibility as an agent is responsible for an action only if said agent is free.
Criticism of Libertarianism
Some feel that Libertarians don’t appreciate the extent of our conditioning also that there is no empirical evidence for the moral self and why is everything else conditioned but not this.
Hard Determinism definition
Thesis that every event is caused by a preceding event, and so has to happen (theory of universal causation). Argue that free will and ethical accountability is an illusion as all behaviour is caused by external or internal forces that we have no control over.
Philosophers and arguments for Hard determinism
Holbach Laplace's demon Libet's experiment in 1980s Freud - psyche John B. Watson - psychological determinism
3 Types of Hard determinism
Physical determinism
Biological determinism
Psychological determinism
Argument and Philosopher for Physical determinism and criticisms
Believe in materialism and holds that all physical events occur as described by physical laws.
We can predict many events, this suggests there is an underlying mechanism or ‘necessary cause’ which makes these events occur. Therefore, all events are caused by the preceding events. Illustrated by Laplace’s demon, a being that can predict with perfect accuracy what will happen based on the present conditions and laws of the universe.
criticism: truth of physical determinism can’t be fully demonstrated therefore we can never know with absolute certainty that all events are determined. Is an inductive argument so requires a gap in reasoning so conclusion can’t be fully justified without more evidence.
1980s Libet study explanation and criticism
His experiment showed that neural activity occurs just before we consciously choose to press a button - implying that our conscious mind may just be observing a decision we have already made and not actually participating in the decision, meaning free will is an illusion.
criticism: The brain is so complex that experiment and tech is too simple and clunky to get at the subtlety of the exact time when we make a conscious decision.
Libet himself said this isn’t proof for inexistence of freewill and we also still have time to decide against this decision.
Hume’s theory against physical determinism and notion of ‘necessary causation’
Theory of constant conjunction - Although we observe many events in the universe that we can predict and appear to be a result of causation, not necessarily the case and could be coincidence and unrelated e.g. day follows night yet don’t cause each other.
Hume stated there is nothing to explain irregularity in universe other than scientific induction - requires leap of faith.
Psychological determinism (2 Philosophers)
Argues that our mental states and experiences are causally determined by what we choose to do. Suggested by John Watson who suggested that behaviour can be predicted and controlled as it is controlled by prior causes which are, in principle, knowable.
Supported by Freud’s model of the psyche which is structured into three parts, the id, ego and superego. The id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that is inherited and present at birth e.g. sex (life) instinct, the super-ego operates as a moral conscience resulting from conditioning and customs (external factors) and the ego mediates between the desires of the id and the super-ego.
