Hard Determinism Flashcards
What’s the principle of causality?
Concept that everything has to have an explanation, therefore so does the way in which we choose to act
Criticism of hard determinism
- Human freedom becomes an illusion
- it is essentially an ignorant view of what is going on. It takes a very materialist stance in that it explains everything by physical processes.
- We cannot be held morally responsible for our actions if they are causally determined and not a result of our moral choice.
- we are mistaken to praise someone for being good and blame those who are bad. Eg. Terrorism/murder
Give a quote from Ted Honderich
All our choices, decisions, and our actions are no more than effects of other equally necessitated events
Why the idea that human beings are in control is in fact an illusion?
Because the idea of free will becomes a defence mechanism in order to make sense of things
Why John Locke disagrees that free will becoming a defence mechanism?
Because it’s as ignorant as the person who awakes in a locked room and decides to stay there. It appears to be a free decision. But in reality the person has no choice but to remain there as the room is locked
In which ways of explanations of our nature have thinkers put forward?
- Behavioural science (Skinner)
- Psychology (Freud)
- Biological science (Dawkins)
What is behavioural science?
The scientific study of human and animals behaviour. Skinner argues that we are mere products of social conditioning
Give an example of behavioural science
Child language acquisition. Influence of parents/carer- positive and negative reinforcement
Psychology
the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context. Freud argued that our desires and choices are residues of previous experiences
Example that verifies Freud’s theory
Jack’s mother left his family when he was a child. Ever since then, he has had a very difficult time trusting people because he is afraid they will abandon him.
What is biological science?
The science that studies living organisms. Dawkins argued that we are driven by a selfish gene which instinctively works towards survival.
What’s the Selfish gene theory?
Dawkins theorized that each gene acted in a way that would allow it the best opportunity to be replicated and passed on to the next generation.
Example that verifies the Selfish gene theory
A couple wants to procreate to expand their family, closely related individuals are more likely to have the same genes and thus assisting in the passing on of those same genes to future generations.
What did Richard Dawkins suggest?
(Hard determinists can explain good moral choices). We can transcend our selfish gene through cooperation and kindness to others, what he refers to as a lust to be nice
If our actions are truly determined, then in what sense can we be morally responsible for them? Is it fair to punish people for committing a actions beyond their control?
The law considers people who have limited control over their actions because of extreme psychological or emotional difficulties as having diminished responsibility
Example of someone who may have diminished responsibility
The emotionally and distraught beaten wife who kills her husband- her emotional state has distorted her judgment and she may have felt driven to an extreme which presented itself to her as the only way out
Give a quote from Dawkins
‘There is no reason why the influence of the genes cannot be reversed by other influences… In fact genes only determine behaviour in a statistical sense’
Pros of hard determinism
- there is a prior cause for everything, including our actions and out choices since our character is a product of other causes. Eg. Country you live in
- more scientific society is more willing to accept these findings
