Free Will II

What is incompatibilism?

Free will and determinism are incompatible.

What does Hard Determinism say about Determinism?

Determinism is true, so we don’t have free will.

What does Libertarianism say about Determinism?

Determinism is false (for human choices), so we have free will.

What is the consequence argument presented by Peter Van Inwagen?

1. We cannot change the past or the laws of nature.

2. We cannot change anything that necessarily follows from the past and the laws of nature (transfer of powerlessness principle).

   So our present actions necessarily follow from the past and the laws of nature, so we cannot change the fact that our present actions occur.

What are the implications of Hard Determinism?

If our actions are determined, the foundation for moral accountability collapses, raising questions about the fairness of punishment and reward. It says we have no moral responsibility.

What is Saul Smilansky’s Illusionism?

The illusion of free will is necessary for maintaining moral responsibility. Without moral imperatives, values erode, undermining achievement, self-worth, and meaning in life.

What is Derk Pereboom’s view on Determinism?

Abandon retributive punishment and adopt a quarantine model of punishment. Sense of self-worth can arise from things not dependent on free will (beauty, intelligence, natural ability).

What are the two terms on love from Pereboom?

Eros and Agape.

Define Eros in relation to Hard Determinism.

Erotic love does not depend on free will.

Define Agape in relation to Hard Determinism.

Unconditional love is not bestowed because it is deserved.

What is event causation?

Causal relations hold between events.This kind of causation is impersonal and follows a chain of cause and effect, common in natural sciences and deterministic frameworks.

Events: Occurrences, processes, or states of affairs involving objects.

What is agent causation?

Causation of events by agents (substances or persons). Unlike event causation, agent causation posits that individuals can initiate actions independently of deterministic chains, though the exact mechanism is debated.

Problem: Agent causation is mysterious and hard to determine.

What is Robert Kane’s Event-casual Libertarianism

Agents make undetermined choices called self-forming actions (SFAs). SFAs provide ultimate responsibility. Kane’s theory suggests that in moments of genuine choice, multiple outcomes are possible, and our decisions shape our moral character over time.

What is determinism?

Given the past and laws of nature, only one possible future exists.

What is indeterminism?

Given the past and laws of nature, more than one possible future exists.