freewill notes

Freewill

The capacity of the mind/brain that allows individuals to direct their decisions and actions.

Determinism

The theory that all actions are determined by prior causes or external factors.

Metaphysical question

Questions concerning the nature of reality, such as whether we have free will or if our actions are causally determined.

actus reus / mens rea

Legal terms where 'actus reus' refers to the physical act of committing a crime and 'mens rea' refers to the mental state or intention behind the act.

Benjamin Libet's consciousness experiments

Studies showing that brain activity related to actions occurs before individuals become consciously aware of their decision to act.

Framing effect

The influence on decision-making based on how information is presented, such as statistics framed in different ways.

Physicalist determinism

The view that every event is determined by prior causes governed by universal physical laws.

Theistic determinism

The perspective that all events are predetermined by God.

Hard determinism

The belief that determinism is true and thus denies the existence of free will.

Compatibilism

The belief that determinism is compatible with free will and moral responsibility.

Libertarianism

The view that humans have free will and are not fully determined by prior causes.

Indeterminism

The belief that not all events are caused by prior events, allowing for some level of unpredictability.

Consequential argument

An argument suggesting that if all actions are determined, they lack genuine moral responsibility.

Agent causation

The concept that agents can cause actions independently of prior events.

Event causation

The idea that one event leads to another in a causal chain.

Deep-self compatibilism

The view that freedom involves acting on desires that a person authentically identifies with.

Principle of sufficient reason

The concept that everything must have a cause or reason for its existence.

Casual determinism

The theory that each state of the world is determined by the previous state according to causal laws.

Libet’s readiness potential

A measure of brain activity that indicates unconscious preparation for voluntary movement before conscious awareness.

Causal link

The connection between causes and effects in the sequence of events.

Free choice test

A criteria to determine if an action arises from free will, enabled by genuine possibilities.

Phenomenological evidence

Evidence based on subjective experience, such as the feeling of making a free choice.

Moral responsibility

Accountability for one's actions, contingent upon the ability to act freely.

Causally constrained

The idea that, even when people feel free, they are still influenced by external or internal factors.

External constraints

Factors that limit an individual's ability to act in accordance with their own will.

Internal conditions

Personal factors, such as desires or motivations, that influence decisions but may not constrain freedom.

Domino effect

A chain reaction where one event causes another in a sequential manner.

Ignorance of causes

The concept that a lack of awareness about the causes of our actions can create the illusion of free will.

Principle of alternative possibilities (PAP)

The claim that for moral responsibility, it must be possible to act otherwise.

Authentic desires

Desires that individuals truly wish to act upon and reflect their true self.

Causal nexus

The network of causal connections that influence events.

Causal determinism

A philosophical theory that all events, including human actions, are determined by preceding events in accordance with the laws of nature.

What is the free choice test?

A criterion to determine if an action arises from free will, enabled by genuine possibilities.