Libertarianism

Question 1

Who came up with the analogy of a fork in the road

Answer 1

Peter Van Inwagen

Question 2

Explain the analogy of Inwagen

Answer 2

Free will is incompatible with determinism. We consciously make choices in life to take paths that we wish to follow

Question 3

Consequent argument

Answer 3

Choices are possible for us to make. If there were no choices then there would be no fork in the road and there would be only one response possible

Question 4

Criticism of the consequent argument

Answer 4

Our experiences tells us that we do indeed make choices. If we were completely determined by our genes and our environment then there could be no fork on the road. This assumes that our lives are like roads and that movement in life is always straightforwards

Question 5

Personality

Answer 5

Empirical concept, anything that is to do with human senses. Governed by causal laws. Formed by heredity and environment and limits the choices one has

Question 6

The difference between the moral self and personality

Answer 6

ethical concept. Distinguish between duty and desire. We decide what to do in situations of our moral choice. Separate from our personality

Question 7

Give a quote of Plato

Answer 7

Your destiny should not be alloted to you, but you shall choose it for yourselves

Question 8

Explain Plato’s quote

Answer 8

a person is a free agent. Morally responsible for those actions

Question 9

What is conscience?

Answer 9

The moral self. Separate entity within us. We should act in a way that fits our principles and beliefs

Question 10

How did Aquinas explained conscience?

Answer 10

The voice of our trueselves. It is a device or faculty for distinguishing right from wrong rather than an inner knowledge

Question 11

What does conscience mean for libertarians?

Answer 11

It enables the decision-making process to function based upon the belief that what we are choosing is right or good. This is what makes us a human being

Question 12

What does conscience mean for the religious?

Answer 12

The inner voice of God. Part of becoming our trueselves is to discover, through reason, the natural law established by God and to follow this.

Question 13

Give a quote from the New Testament by St Jerome

Answer 13

The spark of conscience with which we discern what we sin

Question 14

Explain St Jerome’s argument

Answer 14

We have the power to distinguish good from evil. It is the capacity to make judgements and a power of the soul

Question 15

What is the synderesis rule?

Answer 15

Aquinas thought that people basically tended towards the good and away from evil. The reason people sometimes did evil deeds was because they had made a mistake

Question 16

Give a quote of Aquina’s definition of conscience

Answer 16

‘Reason making right decisions.’ Conscience deliberates between good and bad

Question 17

Elements of decision making process / Difference between conscience and synderesis

Answer 17

Synderesis is right reason, the awareness of the moral principle to do good and evil. Conscientia distinguishes between right and wrong and makes the moral decision

Question 18

Give a quote from Joseph Butler

Answer 18

Had it strength as it has right; had it power as it had manifest authority, it would absolutely govern the world

Question 19

Explain Butler’s argument

Answer 19

Conscience gives us instant intuitive judgements about what we should do. It is the final decision maker. It directs a human being towards loving others and away from selfish acts. In this way, conscience can never be wrong. This is what God has given us in our human nature. It instructs us to act in a certain way is adequate justification to behave in this way.

Question 20

Conscience as a moral guide. Give a quote from St Paul talking about conscience

Answer 20

“They can demonstrate the effects of the law engraved on their hearts, to which their own conscience bears witness”

Question 21

Explain St Paul’s quote

Answer 21

Aquinas also taught that conscience can never motivate you to do something that goes against what is morally right as determined by natural law. Consciences should be informed, as ignorance can lead conscience astray

Question 22

What did Sigmund Freud believe about conscience?

Answer 22

Limits our freedom. Free will restricted.Human psyche was inspired by inaction five desires that had to be satisfied. Humans create the ego, which takes account of the realities of the world and society. A superego reflects anger and disapproval of others. It creates a guilty conscience

Question 23

What are the two types of conscience according to psychologists who amended Freud’s theory?

Answer 23

Mature and immature conscience

Question 24

What is a mature conscience?

Answer 24

Healthy, ego’s reflection about the best way of achieving happiness. Acts on things of value. Concerned what is right and wrong and it looks out to the world, developing new insights into situations

Question 25

What is an immature conscience?

Answer 25

Super ego. Feelings of guilt, prerational stage by parents and schooling. Inspires actions to gain approval. Concerned with feelings

Question 26

How can mature and immature consciences conflict?

Answer 26

The super ego reflects human social nature. We belong to a group and our life depends on our relationship with others. The mature conscience claims autonomy, the individual searches for self fulfilment.

Question 27

Example that challenges the use of conscience to justify free will

Answer 27

I may feel guilty about going shopping on a Sunday, because it was instilled in me as a child that this was wrong, although I no longer believe that it's wrong

Question 28

What's a causally undetermined choice?

Answer 28

When a moral choice is made, there is no overriding power making the person choose one or another

Question 29

What does Cardinal Newman say about conscience?

Answer 29

Despite being Roman Catholic and following the Pope's guidance, the conscience has the authority of superseding this due to the fact that it is given by God

Question 30

Give a quote from Cardinal Newman?

Answer 30

I toast the Pope but I toast conscience first

Question 31

Is Roman Catholic compatible with Cardinal Newman's teaching about conscience?

Answer 31

Yes. It recognises the crucial role and function of conscience by allowing believers the freedom not to be forced against what their conscience tells them

Question 32

What matters for libertarians when making choices?

Answer 32

Choices are causally undetermined

Question 33

Give a quote from David Hume

Answer 33

By Liberty, we can only mean a power of acting or not acting, according to the determinations of the will

Question 34

Which concept traditionally explain the causally undetermined choice ?

Answer 34

This has been explained by the idea of dualism

Question 35

What is dualism?

Answer 35

Body-soul divide

Question 36

Give an example of the link between dualism and free will

Answer 36

Descartes believed that the mind or soul was distinct from the body and physical world. If an entity is distinct from the world then its activity would not be subject to the laws of nature that govern physical events. The soul or mind would interact with the physical world through influencing the brain's activity, allowing free choice to take place.

Question 37

What does Hume's quote mean?

Answer 37

We are not compelled to act by forces outside our moral consciousness. Moral actions are not chance or random events, but result from the values and character of the moral agent

Question 38

Example of a non ethical situation that proves that we have free will

Answer 38

If I am brought up among criminals, I may be predisposed to think that stealing is acceptable, but moral perception can present the idea that it is wrong. Some people give in to temptation while other hold out

Question 39

Pros of libertarianism

Answer 39

- we do have choices in life and we can choose different things. Eg. Stop believing in God - advocates argue that the individual has a value which is measure in terms of their distinctiveness and creativity rather than the extent to which the fit in with others. It limits and clarifies the occasions when freedom should be restricted. Rather than saying 'What should we allow people to do?', they start from the perspective 'What if any limits should we place on people's freedom?'

Question 40

Cons of libertarianism

Answer 40

- surely actions are caused by something. E.g. Murder/ going to uni - difficult to say that there are no causes beyond our control. E.g. Driving drunk/ schoolgirl attacking another girl - soft determinists think that libertarians do not fully understand the significance of human psychology and that free choices cannot be undetermined causes