Topic 21 Determinism and Responsibility

Question 1

Reasons why determinism means that human beings’ choices and actions cannot be free?

Answer 1

• hard determinism = cannot make free choices since everything cause by other factors
• genetic determinists = genes determine character -> actions (no freedom)
• psychological determinists = limited by upbringing + cannot escape it - no choice eg.Mary Bell
• physical determinists = body and brain determine actions - confined by decisions made by our bodies

Question 2

Mary bell case study

Answer 2

• 1968, murdered 2 young boys
• neglected during childhood
• only knew abuse
• convicted of man slaughter due to diminished responsibility
• granted anonymity

Question 3

Determinism - humans do have free choices - three reasons

Answer 3

1. Genetic determinism overridden by upbringing etc so freedom
2. Children differ from parents so aren’t determined by upbringing / genes

3 soft determinism = internal + external causes (eg desires to do something internal + free, and upbringing = external) Actions free if follow internal causes

Question 4

5 reasons why humans are responsible for their actions + should be punished

Answer 4

• libertarians = free will + responsible
• soft determinists = everything has supporting series of cause but still have free will + responsible

Even if kleptomaniac, can overcome internal desire to steal (responsible)

• Christians = God gave us ability to decide between right + wrong (responsible)
• parable sheep + goats (ppl judged on actions + punished)

Question 5

No humans aren’t responsible + shouldn’t be punished

Answer 5

• determinists = factors lead us to act, not responsible
  Rehabilitation instead of punishment
• Leopold + Loeb, possible to prove ppl aren’t responsible, punishment reduced
• Christians = predestination - bad actions due to original sin(not responsible, but still punished in hell)

Question 6

Does God decide our fate?

2 yes

Answer 6

1. Augustine = god = omniscient + decides fate of all people (heaven/hell)
2. Romans 8 ‘for those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness to his son’

Question 7

Does God decide our fate?

3 reasons no

Answer 7

1. God is ultimate judge eg in sheep + goats, but ppl choose how to live their lives
2. For atheists no god - cannot be god who decides fate
3. Idea that god decides fate of ppl is incompatible w omnibenevolence of god