simple free will Flashcards
free will is about
having the individual freedom to decide ones destiny
why do we think we have free will according to H determinisms
because we are not aware of the causes of our actions
soft determinists believe that determinism is necessary
otherwise everything would be too random or down to chance
we blame and praise people and this means
people freely and knowingly undertake actions
basis of morality is dependent upon
freedom
nature nurture argument
to what extent our genetics determine our choice or to what extent our choices are determined by environment
our genetics mean we are
programmed like a computer
external factors
social contexts which controls our behaviour and adds features to the programming of internal factors
problem with nature nurture argument
what happens when an individual acts contrary to their upbringing and genetics e.g. twins
social contract
the unwritten agreement in society that a citizen agrees to–> accepting these rules limit our behaviour
restraints on freedom?
conflict of free wills–> crossroads
e.g. if i have freedom to move can i go anywhere?
we allow as much freedom as society affords us
a causally undetermined choice
choice is not predetermined by causes, genetic or envionmental
how is the causally undetermined choice explained
by dualism
dualism
the idea of the body soul divide- mind and soul is distinct from the body and physical world- if an entity is distinct from the physical world then its activity would not be subject to the laws of nature
through will power…
the moral self can overcome personality traits
definition of free will
the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate
scientific argument in favour of free will
heinsberg and his uncertainty principle
scientific argument against free will
principle of causality
if free will is real:
- all of our decisions are genuine
- our success is down to us and us alone
- if we make bad decisions, we cannot blame the decisions on causal factors
- we must take moral responsibility for all of our actions- free autonomous agents
limits of free will
- what happens when a persons free will restricts another persons free will?
- what if we are not really free and we just don’t know the alternative option available e.g. john locke
- if we have free will, how do we make moral decisions
