The London Lyceum Free Will, Compatibilism, and Manipulation with Taylor Cyr
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Jul 7, 2021 Taylor Cyr, a philosopher specializing in free will and moral responsibility, joins the hosts for a thought-provoking discussion. They delve into compatibilism, explaining how moral responsibility might exist even without alternative possibilities. Cyr introduces the manipulation argument, illustrating how manipulated individuals may still retain agency. He also distinguishes between coercion and Frankfurt-style cases, challenging our understanding of freedom. The conversation navigates complex intersections between determinism, manipulation, and divine knowledge, pushing the boundaries of philosophical thought.
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Compatibilism Defined Against Determinism
- Compatibilism holds that free will (the control required for moral responsibility) can coexist with determinism.
- Determinism says given past states and laws, only one future unfolds, challenging the freedom to do otherwise.
Consequence Argument And A Compatibilist Reply
- The consequence argument claims determinism makes our acts inevitable consequences of past + laws, so not up to us.
- Compatibilists can accept loss of alternative possibilities but deny that this undermines moral responsibility.
Frankfurt Case: Jones And The Hidden Override
- Taylor describes Frankfurt's classic case: Jones is monitored by a neuroscientist who would override any different choice but never does.
- Jones decides on his own, yet lacks alternative possibilities, suggesting responsibility can persist without leeway.
