libertarianism

Question 1

key terms

Answer 1

libertarianism - view that despite restraints from genetics & environment humans are free moral agents

Question 2

what is libertarianism

Answer 2

• two main views are that all forms of determinism are false and in issues of right and wrong we act as free moral agents
• they are mind body dualists which means the mind is separate substance from physical body & brain can act freely in physical world
• other libertarians claim causality has nothing to do with free will so human moral freedom is non causal which asserts there’s 2 types of events (caused & free)
• moderate libertarians wouldn’t deny the external world is deterministic, also accept that deterministic processes affect living beings, accept that the personality is to large extent governed by hereditary, social situation
• insist human behaviour isn’t determined by external causes
• example: kleptomaniac whose physiological, psychological & genetic disposition may dispose him to steal but this is forgone conclusion so when left unobserved may or may not steal which suggests we’re actually free so we can choose what to do & must take responsibility

Question 3

how human behaviour is limited - physical

Answer 3

-some things we’re physically incapable of like we can’t run a mile in 2mins so we can’t be blamed for failing this attempt
- little ethical significance

Question 4

how human behaviour is limited - psychological

Answer 4

• if we have strong psychological motivation for one particular choice rather than another this will have some bearing on what we choose depending on degree of motivation

Question 5

how human behaviour is limited - social

Answer 5

• limited by financial, social and political structures under which we live
• way we understand life and politics the choices we make are profoundly influenced by our circumstances
• we can become anti social and rebel against norms of our society affirming our freedom to do so but takes more effort and conviction to do so rather than conform to expectations

Question 6

how human behaviour is limited

Answer 6

• these limitations are acceptable for a libertarian as idea of complete freedom makes little sense
• most common reason for arguing in favour of libertarianism is we experience ourselves as free & also have sense of moral responsibility
• this argument is called common sense argument & found in folk psychology
• this means the opinion of ordinary people who can make day-to-day decisions without doubting that they’re freely made
• determinists reject this as this ‘sense of freedom’ is simply an illusion brought about fact our brains are so complex and reasons for our actions are so varied that we simply experience the unconscious sorting out of these reasons as freedom
• libertarians response as if it’s an illusions it is a very persistent one
• libertarian is forward thinking as future can be self directed
• they emphasise the reasons for an action

Question 7

paralysis of complete freedom

Answer 7

• imagine complete utter freedom what do you do? may want to satisfy physical urge but would suggest you aren’t free but things you want are things your past has caused you to have
• experience of complete freedom would be like sitting in middle of flat landscape & trying to decide where to go because actual experience of freedom requires limitations to make sense

Question 8

main differences between hard determinism and libertarianism

Answer 8

• determinism claims that the mind is subjects to causal laws but libertarianism argues that this is false otherwise there’d be no argument
• determinists argue that there is evidence for determinism but no evidence for libertarianism they argue the only evidence possessed by determinists is that physical systems governed by natural laws as no reason to think its governed in such a way
• most compelling argument for libertarianism is we consistantly experience being free though determinists dismiss this as an illusion brought about by great complexity of unconscious mental processes