Libertarianism Flashcards
basic points of Libertarianism
- we are free moral agents
- influenced by nothing and no one
- moral responsibility for actions
- free will
- we carve out own paths
plato
‘your destiny shall not be allotted to you’
what cannot be applied to human behaviour in lib
causal factors
Peter Van Inwagen
analogy of the road- lib is like travelling down aa road and choosing which turning to take, whereas determinism is like travelling down a road with no turnings- just one fixed path
ideas that support the idea of libertarianism
we feel guilt- if we did not feel guilt to would prove we are not responsible for our actions
positives of libertarianism
- recognises that humans have intuition-> we like to feel like we are free
- personal responsibility under pins our main systems of ethics and laws ( Anscombe believes that in a secular society it is important to recognise this- VE)
- in h determinism it is not a strong enough argument to suggest that event A causes event B –> libertairnsm causes individuals to take responsibility
- if an individual can feel sorry for what they have den they may change and be better members of the community.
weaknesses of libertarianism
- locke’s analogy of a man locked in a room without knowing he is locked. Just because we feel free, doesn’t mean we are –> feeling free is not a strength of the theory
- if we have the power to choose, then how do we choose Criteria?
- very few would agree that past experiences, emotion, beliefs and values have no influence on us what so ever
Dawkins
we can override biology with free will
an example of how lib is very different to determinism
a kleptomaniac may be inclined to steal, but has the choice not to, therefore they are still morally responsible for stealing