Free will versus determinism

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

• 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

Determinism

• = 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

• laws of nature
• biology
• external situations or causes

moral responsibility

• 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

Indeterminism

• the idea that events and choices are not determined by outside forces

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 "necessary v sufficient causes"

Reconciling free will with determinism

contingency

• = conditions + choices
• we cannot determine or choose our conditions
• we can, however, make choices given conditions we do not control or choose