Philosophical Perspectives on Free Will and Ethics

determinism

all of our actions are already determined/influenced by our past (genes)

libertarianism

some of our actions are undetermined and up to us

compatibalism

free will and determinism can both be true

argument from the success of science (determinism)

science shows that every event is caused

argument from sufficient reason (determinism)

there is a sufficient reason for every event in history (there is a reason for action)

argument from reason (determinism)

if every event, including mental processes, is determined by prior events, then reason itself cannot be rational

the relevance of quantum mechanics (determinism)

if you knew all the initial conditions, you could predict the future evolution of a system with certainty, even if it's probabilistic

argument for libertarianism

we perceive that we are free; freedom is presupposed by determinism

Libertarianism (the chance argument)

If I don't determine my actions, they are random

the 'no difference in reasons' argument (libertarianism)

I can't act in more than one way based on the very same reasons.

agency theory

the principal relies on the agent to act on their behalf

how often we are free (libertarianism)

not often

The principle of Alternate Possibilities (libertarianism)

a person is morally responsible for an action only if they could have done otherwise

incompatibalism

determinism and free will do not go together

incompatibalists conceptions of free will

the ability to do otherwise

ultimate responsibility (incompatibalism)

you originate the argument your choice

compatibalist conception of free will

the ability to do otherwise if one wanted (act on desires)

paradigm case for compatibalism

we can know that we are free from the way we use the word free

the consequence argument for incompatibalism

if determinism is true then the future is not up to us; it's up to nature and the past which we cannot change

human freedom and divine foreknowledge incompatibility

if you believe in an omnipotent God that knows what you are going to do how can you be free

theological compatibalism

asserts that God's omnipotence is compatible with human freedom and responsibility

Ockhamism

God's knowledge depends on what I will do (my free will)

Hard and soft facts

something fixed, not set in stone (I could do something different)

objections to Ockhamism

if God knows what I am going to do is it still free?

Molinism

God knows what each of us do in specific circumstances taking our free actions into account

Middle knowledge

knowledge God has in between what is necessary and what could happen

Objections to Molinism

How do we know what middle knowledge is do we choose because God knows or does God know because we choose

Atemporal eternalism

God's nature, that proposes a timeless existence where past, present, and future are all equally real and exist simultaneously

Atemporal eternalism objections

eternalism is incompatible with the existence of change and the way we perceive the world

Open theism

The future is not settled and God knows everything to a limit

Open theism objections

God is omnipotent

The trolley problem

flip the switch and save five people killing one person

Singer's argument on affluence and famine

if it is within your power to prevent something bad from happening then you should do so

Utilitarianism

actions are morally right if they promote the greatest happiness

Mill's greatest happiness principle

Actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they do not

Bentham's hedonic calculus

to determine what is the right thing to do calculate the totals of pleasure and pain

Egalitarianism

each person's happiness is as important as the other

Act/rule utilitarianism

actions evaluated based on consequences rules based on following principles

The swine objection

pleasure is an unworthy aim

The moral absolute objection

some things are wrong regardless of consequences

The quantification objection

the utility of actions can't be quantified

The 'one thought too many' objection

calculation can interfere with genuineness

Deontology

acting based on rules

Kant's categorical imperative

"make no special exceptions for yourself"

Formulation of the Universal Law

act only according to a principle that you would want everyone to follow

Formulation of the end-in-itself

every rational being should be treated as an end-in-itself not just a means alone

Hypothetical imperatives

if you want Y to be the case, do X

Categorical imperative

if you want happiness, do X

Perfect and imperfect duties

acting on something because it is your duty

Deontology objections

shouldn't inclination be part of our motives to do something

Virtue ethics

asks about character

Confucius's ethics

focused on kindheartedness

Aristotle's ethics

ultimate goal in life is to live well and virtues help you

Eudaemonia

living in virtues that help you act the right way

The doctrine of the mean

having the correct amount of fear and confidence

Habituation

building virtue by practicing virtue

Phronesis

helps to figure out the correct mean

Objections to Aristotle's ethics

doesn't offer clear solutions to moral dilemmas

Roberts on spirituality

meaning connects to something bigger than oneself

The Euthyphro problem

is something good because God commands it or does it exist independently

Divine command theory

action is morally good if and only if it is commanded by God

Sullivan on what liberalism is missing

individualistic focus can miss out on meaning of a person's life

Meaning of meaning

can explain value and purpose, can also be subjective and objective

Subjective

if it is created by a subject's experience or choice

Objective

if the value or purpose is in the object itself

Relation of meaning to death and eternal life

meaning is events that have been done in someone's life it does not go away after you pass

Existentialism

existing precedes existence

Sartre's anguish, forlornness, and despair

freedom can cause despair

Meaning in the Christian perspective

seeking and understanding God

Eternal life

continuation between our current life and the next

Visio Dei

understanding the world through God's perspective

Plato's influence on the Christian perspective

the realms of being and becoming

Willard on external activity

not an eternal church service, not outside of time

Plantinga on vocation

your vocation can have multiple factors