Free Will, Determinism, and Ancient Ethics

Vocabulary flashcards covering core philosophical concepts of free will, varieties of determinism, the Consequence Argument, and theories of the good and happiness from Al-Kindī, Plato, and Aristotle.

Compatibilism

The view that free will and determinism are compatible, meaning a person can act freely even if their actions are determined by previous events, as long as they meet certain conditions.

Incompatibilism

The view that free will and determinism are incompatible, meaning that genuine free will is impossible if determinism is true.

Classical Compatibilist Position

The position that an action is free when a person acts according to their own will or desires without external force or coercion, having the ability to do what they want to do if they choose to do it.

Al-Kindī's Division of Goods

The distinction in On Dispelling Sorrows between temporary, worldly goods and lasting, intellectual or spiritual goods.

Al-Kindī's Advice on Unhappiness

The guidance that people should not become overly attached to temporary possessions or external circumstances, should recognize them as naturally changeable, and should focus on lasting intellectual and spiritual development.

Source of Sadness (Al-Kindī)

The philosophical idea that much of our sadness comes from losing things that we mistakenly expect to keep forever.

Form of the Good (Plato)

The eternal, unchanging ideal form that constitutes the highest Good, which individual good things participate in or reflect.

Theory of the Good (Aristotle)

The view rejecting a single universal Form, arguing that 'good' applies to different things in different ways depending on their nature and purpose, and is understood by what allows something to fulfill its function.

Logical Determinism

The variety of determinism based on the idea that statements about the future already have a truth value, raising questions about whether the future can be otherwise.

Theological Determinism

The view that God's knowledge, will, or power determines what happens, raising questions about whether human beings can act freely.

Causal Determinism

The view that every event is necessitated by prior events and the laws of nature, such that given the same past and natural laws, only one future is possible.

Psychological Determinism

The view that human choices and actions are determined by psychological causes, such as desires, motives, beliefs, conditioning, and character.

The Consequence Argument

An argument for incompatibilism concluding that if determinism is true, no one has power over the past or laws of nature, and consequently no one has the power to prevent what they will do in the future.

Eudaimonia

Aristotle's term for happiness, characterized as the highest good and the way of living and functioning well.

Role of Virtue (Aristotle)

The element of a happy life that enables humans to perform their distinctively human function well, requiring consistent practice and good decision-making rather than merely knowing what is right.

Role of External Goods (Aristotle)

Goods such as beauty, honor, health, and wealth that are important because they assist individuals in practicing virtue and carrying out worthwhile activities.