Paper 1 - Free will and determinism

Question 1

three types of determinism

Answer 1

genetic
psychological
physical

Question 2

genetic determinism points (4)

Answer 2

o Genes control physical characteristic (eye colour, height etc)
o They may control character traits as well (patient vs hot tempered)
o This means that a person’s choices will be influenced by nature, by the type of person they are.
o This could explain why things like drug addiction and crime may seem to run in families.

Question 3

psychological determination points (4)

Answer 3

o Children learn by imitation.
o This means that early influences will be very powerful.
o Children assume parents are right and their own home life is normal.
o If a child comes from a family in which violence is used to solve problems, then they may turn to violence as soon as they have a problem in their life.

Question 4

physical determinism points (3)

Answer 4

o The physical laws of the universe limit what we can and can’t do. For example, we cannot fly.
o Our brains are also physical objects and as such limited by the physical laws of the universe.
o It is possible that our brains are like computes, the things that seem to be our thoughts and choices are just the result of the input that our brains receive from the outside world. We think that we are making choices, but it is just an illusion.

Question 5

3 problems with predestination for christians

Answer 5

 It seems to make it pointless to try and lead a good life as our actions cannot affect our destiny.
 It seems to make God immoral. It is unfair of him to choose randomly who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.
 It makes it pointless having moral laws and commandments.

Question 6

omniscient quote

Answer 6

“His understanding [is] infinite” Psalms 147:5

Question 7

free will quote

Answer 7

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free” Galatians 5:13