DETERMINISM A03

Hard Determinism strengths

Supported by a wide range of academic principles e.g biology & psychology which all demonstrate cause & effect —> although conscious beings with subjective experiences, humans are not external from the universe’s elements —> cause & effect occurs everywhere, so it is logical to assume human life is no exception

Pavlov’s concept of classical & operant conditioning is rooted within society —> e.g school systems implement the notion of children being conditioned into certain behaviours —> it is the acceptance of Pavlov’s findings that has enabled the development of a contemporary world of law & order

Hard Determinism weaknesses

Contrasts ‘cause’ with ‘freedom’ & limits all actions to having a cause —> theory is easily falsifiable by finding an element of the universe which is not caused, proved through quantum physics —> premise of Hard Determinism thus flawed

Removes the value of human behaviour —> moral actions appear pointless as they do not derive from the conscious decision-making of an individual, can remove moral responsibility —> a negative approach to life which can cause individuals to feel as though their existence is meaningless and accept maladaptive behaviours

Soft Determinism strengths

A more compatibilist approach which allows for the existence of cause & effect while still accepting humans have an extent of free will —> means individuals can attain moral responsibility for their actions, adding value to human behaviours —> however, doesn’t undermine the inescapability of causality within the universe

Distinguishes between internal & external causes —> Hobbes asserts internal are those which originate from within moral agent & align with the individual’s desires etc —> also allows moral responsibility

Soft Determinism weaknesses

Offers a narrow understanding of human freedom —> Ayer’s claim a ‘free’ action is one that is not constrained doesn’t align with the assertion that that action then belongs to moral agent

American lawyer defended 2 teenage boys from murder, successfully arguing they should not receive death penalty because they did not choose their upbringing or past experiences that caused them to murder —> leads back to Hard Determinism in allowing for the rejection of moral responsibility