Free will versus determinism: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "== Free will == === necessity and constraint === * can only be exercised given ** absence of necessity *** necessity = a requirement for something to happen ** absence of constraint ** ex. For me to be a bachelor, *** I cannot also be married < absence of necessity *** I cannot be forced to be unmarried < absence of constraint * == Determinism == * = absence of free will * = absence of choice and thus responsibility for one's actions * under determinism, we cannot...") |
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== | == Reason versus will == | ||
* reason = rational thought | |||
** we can reason from a given set of information | |||
* will = choice | |||
** we choose based upon our reason | |||
** but also upon our desires | |||
=== necessity and constraint === | === necessity and constraint === | ||
* can only be exercised given | * free will can only be exercised given | ||
** absence of necessity | ** absence of necessity | ||
*** necessity = a requirement for something to happen | *** necessity = a requirement for something to happen | ||
| Line 10: | Line 16: | ||
*** I cannot also be married < absence of necessity | *** I cannot also be married < absence of necessity | ||
*** I cannot be forced to be unmarried < absence of constraint | *** I cannot be forced to be unmarried < absence of constraint | ||
== Determinism == | == Determinism == | ||
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* = absence of choice and thus responsibility for one's actions | * = absence of choice and thus responsibility for one's actions | ||
* under determinism, we cannot be held responsible for our actions (no moral choice) | * under determinism, we cannot be held responsible for our actions (no moral choice) | ||
=== deterministic elements === | |||
* laws of nature | |||
* biology | |||
* external situations or causes | |||
=== moral responsibility === | === moral responsibility === | ||
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* the idea that events and choices are not determined by outside forces | * the idea that events and choices are not determined by outside forces | ||
=== necessary but | === necessary but insufficiency === | ||
* '''necessary cause''' = a condition that is "necessary" or required to exist for an outcome to ocurr | |||
** but, that cause does not unto itself yield the outcome | |||
* '''sufficient cause''' = a condition without with the outcome would not have happened | |||
** see: Social Studies skills entry for "[[Social Studies skills#Necessary v. sufficient causes|necessary v sufficient causes]]" | |||
== Reconciling free will with determinism == | == Reconciling free will with determinism == | ||
Latest revision as of 18:22, 12 March 2023
Reason versus will[edit | edit source]
- reason = rational thought
- we can reason from a given set of information
- will = choice
- we choose based upon our reason
- but also upon our desires
necessity and constraint[edit | edit source]
- free will can only be exercised given
- absence of necessity
- necessity = a requirement for something to happen
- absence of constraint
- ex. For me to be a bachelor,
- I cannot also be married < absence of necessity
- I cannot be forced to be unmarried < absence of constraint
- absence of necessity
Determinism[edit | edit source]
- = absence of free will
- = absence of choice and thus responsibility for one's actions
- under determinism, we cannot be held responsible for our actions (no moral choice)
deterministic elements[edit | edit source]
- laws of nature
- biology
- external situations or causes
moral responsibility[edit | edit source]
- if all actions are caused by an outside force, then there is no choice
- if there is no choice, then there is no moral responsibility for one's actions
- consequently there is no such thing as desire, pride, accomplishment, failure, etc.
- problem
- = what is the extent of responsibility in any given situation or outcome?
- there are layers of responsibility in outcomes
- some actions are caused by outside forces
- some actions are result of choice
- there are layers of responsibility in outcomes
- = what is the extent of responsibility in any given situation or outcome?
Indeterminism[edit | edit source]
- the idea that events and choices are not determined by outside forces
necessary but insufficiency[edit | edit source]
- necessary cause = a condition that is "necessary" or required to exist for an outcome to ocurr
- but, that cause does not unto itself yield the outcome
- sufficient cause = a condition without with the outcome would not have happened
- see: Social Studies skills entry for "necessary v sufficient causes"
Reconciling free will with determinism[edit | edit source]
contingency
- = conditions + choices
- we cannot determine or choose our conditions
- we can, however, make choices given conditions we do not control or choose