Free Will and Moral Responsibility (E)

free will

ability to freely chose to act in any circumstance

moral responsibility

people should be held accountable for their actions and receive rewards and punishments accordingly

causally determined

everything that happens is a result of a prior cause nothing is truly free

guilt

emotional response to feeling that you have performed the wrong action

hard determinism

we have no free will and free will is an illusion, people cannot be morally responsible for their actions since they are predetermined

theological determinism

Calvin- God is omniscient so has already who is going to hell and heaven, future is determined, cannot avoid doing that action

scientific determinism

* Epicurus- we have no control over the forces of nature so humans are not morally free
* supported by reductionism human behaviour is a result of biology then chemistry then physics
* all events have a prior cause

psychological determinism

Skinner- behaviour is a product of genetics and environmental conditions (good consequence to action repeated), Pavlov’s dogs behaviour can be conditioned

libertarianism

* we have total free will and should be held morally responsible
* Kant “ought implies can” knowing what we should be implies we are morally free to choose this
* punishment for retribution holding people responsible for their actions

compatibilism

* free will and determinism are compatible
* Hume some things are mere chance, we do not give moral blame unless it is a result of character
* still possible to be held morally responsible we still have some free choice

strengths of determinism

* scientific support from physics laws
* empirical evidence from psychology experiments
* explains why humans harm others

weaknesses of determinism

* not all types of determinism are compatible (theological and scientific)
* how does law and order work in a determinism society
* makes belief in God pointless and predetermined anyway

strengths of compatibilism

* fair and legitimate system for punishment in society
* secular so can apply to everyone
* avoids the issues of determinism and libertarianism

weaknesses of compatibilism

* confusing definition of free will focuses on motivation
* people are not really free if aspects are determined
* some people chose the wrong action and should be punished

strengths of libertarianism

* people are held responsible for their actions
* fair and legitimate punishment system
* fits into Quantum theory “quarks” behave randomly so nothing is determined

weaknesses of libertarianism

* people are psychologically determined by their past behaviours
* some people cannot be responsible for their actions (children)
* only works in democratic society