General Philosophy 7.1 Free Will, Determinism and Choice
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Dec 1, 2010 Dive into the captivating debate on free will versus determinism. Discover how moral responsibility intertwines with notions of choice. The discussion navigates complex philosophical theories like libertarianism and compatibilism. With intriguing thought experiments, the speakers unpack what it truly means to have freedom in decision-making. Can we really claim to make free choices, or are they determined by external factors? It's a fascinating exploration of the very essence of human agency.
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Moral Responsibility and Determinism
- Free will is traditionally tied to moral responsibility; we blame people only for actions they freely choose.
- Determinism challenges this by suggesting all events, including actions, are causally determined and inevitable.
Consequence Argument Against Free Will
- The consequence argument says if determinism is true, we can't do otherwise since all actions follow inevitably from prior causes.
- Thus, under determinism, free will doesn't exist because we lack alternative possibilities.
Frankfurt's Door Choice Example
- Choosing door A freely, even if door B is locked, shows you acted freely despite no alternative action being possible.
- Frankfurt's examples show freedom can exist without the ability to do otherwise.