FD 1.5: Conscience, Free Will and Determinism
Determinism:
Determinism:
Determinism = view that everything that happens is caused to happen by previous conditonss in
accordance with laws of nature
2 positions: Compatbilism & Incompatbilism
Compatibilism free will & determinism are compatble
Incompatibilism free will & determinism are incompatble soo
1. Either determinism is true and we don’t have free will (hard determinism)
2. Or Determinism is false and we have free will (libertarianism)
Libertarianism = false so the argument is merely Compatibilism v Hard Determinism
EXAMPLE: Dominoes:
1. Each domino is determined to fall by the one before it
2. The falling of each domino is inevitable or necessary given the fall of the one before it
Terminology:
Hard Determinism: (incompatibilism)
1. Determinism is true
2. All choices are determined by previous conditons of which we have no control soo
3. Based on the concept of cause and efect
4. Freedom is impossible soo.
5. We are not responsible for our acton
Libertarianism: (incompatibilism)
1. Determinism is false soo
2. Freedom is possible
3. Accept that the universe is determined by std law of physics o but we aren’t
4. If freedom is possible then we are responsible for all our free actons
5. It denies our choices are causally determined by something else
6. Freedom for the libertarian has no meaning…actons can be random
Soft Determinism: (compatibilism):
1. Determinism is true
2. Freedom & determinism are compatble
3. Actons must be determined by previous events or else they’re just random (libertarianism)
4. They are free if they are chosen & there’s nothing to prevent them being done
5. We are responsible for our free actions
Background:
It’s generally accepted that the universe is determined
Sos if liberty exists – it exists within the human sphere
If not thens actons of will (free actons) would then have to be initated by a non-physical
Cartesian Ego (Descartes) not subject to the laws of science
Newtonian mechanics argues this would be a physical impossibility
Determinism:
Determinism:
Determinism = view that everything that happens is caused to happen by previous conditonss in
accordance with laws of nature
2 positions: Compatbilism & Incompatbilism
Compatibilism free will & determinism are compatble
Incompatibilism free will & determinism are incompatble soo
1. Either determinism is true and we don’t have free will (hard determinism)
2. Or Determinism is false and we have free will (libertarianism)
Libertarianism = false so the argument is merely Compatibilism v Hard Determinism
EXAMPLE: Dominoes:
1. Each domino is determined to fall by the one before it
2. The falling of each domino is inevitable or necessary given the fall of the one before it
Terminology:
Hard Determinism: (incompatibilism)
1. Determinism is true
2. All choices are determined by previous conditons of which we have no control soo
3. Based on the concept of cause and efect
4. Freedom is impossible soo.
5. We are not responsible for our acton
Libertarianism: (incompatibilism)
1. Determinism is false soo
2. Freedom is possible
3. Accept that the universe is determined by std law of physics o but we aren’t
4. If freedom is possible then we are responsible for all our free actons
5. It denies our choices are causally determined by something else
6. Freedom for the libertarian has no meaning…actons can be random
Soft Determinism: (compatibilism):
1. Determinism is true
2. Freedom & determinism are compatble
3. Actons must be determined by previous events or else they’re just random (libertarianism)
4. They are free if they are chosen & there’s nothing to prevent them being done
5. We are responsible for our free actions
Background:
It’s generally accepted that the universe is determined
Sos if liberty exists – it exists within the human sphere
If not thens actons of will (free actons) would then have to be initated by a non-physical
Cartesian Ego (Descartes) not subject to the laws of science
Newtonian mechanics argues this would be a physical impossibility
