Free Will and Determinism Flashcards
What is metaphysical freedom?
The freedom in ability to make choices
Define the Hard Determinist definition of free will and their stance
- Free will is where X could have done otherwise in identical conditions
- There is no free will because determinism is true: all thoughts/choices/actions are the inevitable effects of a causal chain
- Humans are not metaphysically free
Define the Soft Determinist definition of free will and their stance
- Free will is where X could have done otherwise had they wanted to = willingness
- We are determined to act in accordance with our reasons/desires/beliefs and this is to will freely= determinism is essential for free will
Define the Libertarian definition of free will and their stance
- Free will is where X could have done otherwise in identical conditions
- There is free will because X would have done otherwise if they had wanted/chosen to
Define determinism
View that all events, including human actions, are the necessary cause and inevitable consequence of preceding causal events.
Define fatalism (as opposed to determinism)
Certain events are predestined to occur at time Tx , regardless of any preceding events (usually implies an interventionist deity exists).
What is the Principle of Sufficient Reason
Every event can be completely and sufficiently explained. There is nothing inexplicable even if all answers have not been found yet.
What is the Principle of Universal Causation?
No physical event in the universe is uncaused. Everything that happens happens because it is caused by something else.
What is Laplace’s demon?
Laplace believed so strongly in physical determinism that he thought an intellect with the precise details of the universe at any given state could work out precisely what would happen next as well as what has happened in the past.
How does Libet’s Experiment provide support for the HD?
Neuroscience experiment in 1980s showing humans feel the urge to perform an action before their brains become active.
Define Physical Determinism
The view that the world is entirely made up of matter and that the laws of nature can be applied to everything, therefore everything that happens is pre-determined. (Excludes mental events).
What does Holbach assert against HD?
He asserts that humans and the world are made completely of matter (physicalism). But the self/mind could be non-physical and so not subject to the laws of nature. Physical determinism doesn’t apply to thoughts, desires etc. because they aren’t physical.
HD response to physicalism asserting mind is not physical?
Ignoring physical, determinism is the belief every event (mental or physical) is caused to happen: causal determinism.
What is an issue (1) with causation? (Cause of the Universe)
From observing some events as predictable does not mean every event is and so has a cause e.g. How does the causal chain begin if there is a 1st cause? An infinity of causes is incoherent because if time is infinite there would be no present
What is Hume’s empirical objection to causation?
- Causation is not observable
- When two snooker balls collide we see A hit B then B moves
- What we see is consistent with other explanations (e.g. magnets moving the balls from underneath the table)
- If sense impressions are identical in both cases, Hume argues a “cause” is not ever experienced through the senses
- We infer the ball “causes” the other to move because we have seen this series of events cause many times
- Hume argues all we can say about the concept of causation is that it refers to the constant conjunction between two events
