free will

Does Harris believe in free will or no?

Harris argues free will is an illusion - our actions are the prodiuuct of brain states which are resulted from the universe generating it over which we have no control

Who do argue that free will exists and give an example of who specifically

Humanistic psychologists argue that it is essential to have self determination

Rogers claimed that as long as an individual remains controlled by other people or other things they cannot take responsibility for their own behaviour and therefore cant change it.

Personal growth and self actualisation is only possible if the person takes responsibility for their actions

What does the uk legislation based on

Moral repsonsbility is only possible when the individual is responsible for their own actions

The UK legal system is based upon the assumption that we choose our behaviours and are therefore responsible for them

Give an example of the importance of free willi n the legislation system

If behaviour is determined by outsid forces - potential excuse for criminal acts

Stephen - argued he was born to kill after killing a pizza shop manager was the first to offer genetic evidence in mitigation in court - looked at family tree and found.4 generation of violence - argued his crime could be linked to his genetic makeup — stil court rejected it but it introduced a new defence for both law and genetics

What happens in court if we can show we didn’t choose to commit a crime due to poor mental health

The defendant might be able to use the Law of diminished responsibility

Defendant will receive a more lenient punishment

What type of validity does free will have

Free will has face validity

Everyday experiences gives the impression that we are constantly exercising re will through string of mundane choices we make

What does Skinner claim

Skinner claims free will is an illusion

Argued our behaviour is environmentally determined even if w are unable to admit it

He believed that al our behaviour is the result of previous reinforcement.

What else contradicts the idea of free will and what’s a study that supports and what study contradicts that

Neuroscience

LIBET found motor regions of brain becoming active before a person registers conscious awareness of a decision

The decision to move a finger was pre determined action of the brain

This suggests that some responses are biologically determined and it alludes to the idea that free will might be an ilusion

A follow up study found the brain activity was simply a readiness to act rather than intention to move

What is a real world effect of debate of free will

Study demonstrated that adolescents who believed in fatalism were at significantly greater risk of developing depression

Suggests that believing in free will is beneficial to an individuals well being

What’s the main argument of free will

SAPOLSKY says there is no evidence for fre will and all human behaviours can be explained through biology or environment

Strict idea

Doesn’t fit well with research evidence from therapy that people can choose to change and improve life