soft determinism

Soft determinism definition

determinism is compatible with free will - often termed compatibilism

who coined the soft determinism approach

William James

How do soft determinists reconcile determinism and free will?

distinguish between acting out of coercion and acting in accordance with our own choices (actually claim that free will requires determinism (/causes) to exist - if events occurred without a cause they would be random and inexplicable)

How do soft determinists agree with hard determinists

all actions and mental states are caused

How do soft determinists agree with libertarians

we are free and therefore have moral responsibility

Hobbes A01

How Hobbes’ views differ from libertarians/hard determinists

Definition of freedom (incl. 2 examples)

internal vs external acts

How do incompatibilists/hard determinists’ views (on free will) relate to cause/effect

You must act without cause to be free, since that is impossible, there is no free will

How do libertarians’ views relate to cause/effect

The agent is an exception to laws of cause and effect

What does Hobbes believe about cause and effect vs will

Will/desire is not independent from the laws of causality

What does it mean that Hobbes is a materialist

Everything is subject to material laws

What example does Hobbes use to evidence his definition of freedom (4)

Free speech

It is not the speech that is free, it’s the agent doing the speaking

Means that freedom comes from being unconstrained to say what you want

Similar to free will, freedom comes from being unconstrained to act according to your will/desires

What is Hobbes’ definition of freedom

Absence of an external impediment

Hobbes’ analogy for freedom (in nature)

A river must flow down it’s channel, but it is free to do so unless something (e.g. a dam) prevents it

How is a free action necessary

Flows from a chain of cause and effect

What is an internal cause (3)

Internalised moral choice

Shaped by prior experiences so still determined

but action still voluntary as came from you

Example of an internal cause

A person throwing belongings in the sea because they’re frightened their ship will sink

Fear is an internal cause and actions driven by desire to save the ship

What is an external cause

When a person’s will is stopped from carrying out it’s predetermined choice

Example of an external cause

throwing belongings into the sea because forced to as the ship rocks

Ayer A01

He accepts determinism (every event has a cause)

Definition of freedom (+ 3 conditions)

Differs from incompatibilists (causes don’t mean we don’t have freedom)

Examples of constraint

Ayer’s definition of a free action (3 conditions + 1)

Act is free if:

1. had ability to act otherwise

2. not compelled (act voluntarily)

3. Not constrained

Every act (even a free act) is caused but that doesn’t undermine freedom

Hard determinist’s view on causes

If an act is caused it is not free

What does Ayer contrast with free will (/say is mutually exclusive with free will)

Constraint (not causality)

What are Ayer’s 3 examples of constraint

coercion, habitual ascendency, internal constraint

Example of coercion

forced at gunpoint to act

What is habitual ascendency and example

Someone who does not engage in the deliberate process

Acting under orders because trained to do so e.g. a soldier

What is internal constraint and example

When someone’s deliberative process is irrelevant

E.g. a kleptomaniac steals regardless of what they desire

1 similarity between kleptomaniac and ordinary thief

Both caused (compelled vs poverty)

1 difference between kleptomaniac and ordinary thief

Thief is able to act in accordance with their desires, kleptomaniac can’t so is constrained making their action not free

What do similarities vs differences between kleptomaniac and ordinary thief show about freedom

Determinism (the idea that causes explain our actions) doesn't have to mean that we’re constrained by those causes.

Ayer argues by recognising this distinction, we can still maintain a sense of freedom in our actions, even if they are determined by prior events or causes.