Notes on Free Will, Determinism, and Responsibility

Free Will and Responsibility

  • Free will implies responsibility for choices.
  • Questions of free will often relate to accountability:
  • "Did you do that of your own free will?" vs. "Was that a choice of yours for which we can hold you responsible?"

Importance of Free Will

  • Our sense of personal value is often tied to our perception of free will.
  • Example: Bernard's distress about being a "host" highlights the significance of free will in self-identity.

Determinism

  • Definition: All choices are predetermined by our constitution, environment, and natural laws.
  • Example: A ball falling is determined by gravity, although some quantum events show indeterminacy.
  • Types of determinism: scientific and supernatural.

The Argument from Determinism

  1. If determinism is true, choices cannot be different.
  2. If choices cannot be different, we are not responsible for our actions.
  3. Determinism is true.
    Conclusion: We are not responsible for our actions (free will is an illusion).

Hard Determinism

  • Accepts the argument from determinism as valid.
  • Suggests advantages: could lead to more compassion towards offenders.
  • Acts morally without the burden of moral worth: actions do not increase moral value.

Libertarian Perspective

  • Argues that the argument from determinism is flawed because the conclusion (P3) is incorrect.
  • Morally responsible agents are the ultimate source of their actions.

Compatibilism (Soft Determinism)

  • Thinks the determinism argument is flawed in either P1 or P2.
  • Example by Harry Frankfurt: Hypnotherapy situation where choices appear to be free.
  • Simple compatibilism: Free will is determined by one’s desires.
  • Second-order-desire compatibilism: Free will aligns with desires that reflect deeper personal values (e.g., confronting addiction).

Questions on Compatibilism

  • Agency: Is free will linked to the ability of agents to initiate actions?
  • Reasons: Do our choices need to be backed by reasons, not just causes?
  • Effort: Is a unique type of effort or trying essential for genuine free will?