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Freedom and Determinism How can we be free in a world of causes? George Matthews Spring 2016
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Freedom and Determinism
How can we be free in a world of causes?
George MatthewsSpring 2016
Everything thathappens has a cause.
We are often freeto choose to do onething or another.
If I am caused to dosomething I am notfree to do otherwise.
Each of these claimsseems to be true on itsown, but can they all betrue at the same time?
Everything thathappens has a cause.
We are often freeto choose to do onething or another.
If I am caused to dosomething I am notfree to do otherwise.
Everything thathappens has a cause.
We are often freeto choose to do onething or another.False
If I am caused to dosomething I am notfree to do otherwise.
The Hard Deterministaccepts that these two claims are
true, and so denies that we are free.
Everything thathappens has a cause.False
We are often freeto choose to do onething or another.
If I am caused to dosomething I am notfree to do otherwise.
The Libertarian accepts thatthese two claims are true andso denies that everything wedo is caused by prior events.
Everything thathappens has a cause.
We are often freeto choose to do onething or another.
If I am caused to dosomething I am notfree to do otherwise.False
The Compatibilist accepts thatthese two claims are true, and deniesthat being free and being causedare really opposed to each other.
Everything thathappens has a cause.
We are often freeto choose to do onething or another.
If I am caused to dosomething I am notfree to do otherwise.
The philosophical problem of freedom is the problem ofshowing which of these positions is true and thus
what we have to give up: freedom, universal causation orthe opposition between the two.
? ?
?
What’s at stake . . .
What’s at stake . . .
F Our lives seem to be a series of real choices.
F We hold people responsible for their actions andthis requires that those actions are free.
F If we are not free, life would be meaningless.
Freedom is important.
What’s at stake . . .
F Our lives seem to be a series of real choices.
F We hold people responsible for their actions andthis requires that those actions are free.
F If we are not free, life would be meaningless.
Freedom is important.
What’s at stake . . .
F Our lives seem to be a series of real choices.
F We hold people responsible for their actions andthis requires that those actions are free.
F If we are not free, life would be meaningless.
Freedom is important.
What’s at stake . . .
F Our lives seem to be a series of real choices.
F We hold people responsible for their actions andthis requires that those actions are free.
F If we are not free, life would be meaningless.
Freedom is important.
What’s at stake . . .
F Whatever happens seems to have a cause.
F Explaining anything involves spelling out whatcaused it to happen.
F As science progresses, more of our behavior canbe explained and so less and less of it seems to bea matter of free choices.
Freedom is mysterious.
What’s at stake . . .
F Whatever happens seems to have a cause.
F Explaining anything involves spelling out whatcaused it to happen.
F As science progresses, more of our behavior canbe explained and so less and less of it seems to bea matter of free choices.
Freedom is mysterious.
What’s at stake . . .
F Whatever happens seems to have a cause.
F Explaining anything involves spelling out whatcaused it to happen.
F As science progresses, more of our behavior canbe explained and so less and less of it seems to bea matter of free choices.
Freedom is mysterious.
What’s at stake . . .
F Whatever happens seems to have a cause.
F Explaining anything involves spelling out whatcaused it to happen.
F As science progresses, more of our behavior canbe explained and so less and less of it seems to bea matter of free choices.
Freedom is mysterious.
determinism
determinism
Baron D’Holbach1723 – 1789
Man’s life is a line thatnature commands himto describe upon thesurface of the earth,without his ever beingable to swerve from it.
determinism
F Determinism is based on the idea that whateverhappens must have a cause.
F Thus our feeling that we make free choices is justa result of our ignorance of the real causes of ouractions.
F But if determinism is true, why argue about it –aren’t our responses to the arguments in favor ofit already determined?
determinism
F Determinism is based on the idea that whateverhappens must have a cause.
F Thus our feeling that we make free choices is justa result of our ignorance of the real causes of ouractions.
F But if determinism is true, why argue about it –aren’t our responses to the arguments in favor ofit already determined?
determinism
F Determinism is based on the idea that whateverhappens must have a cause.
F Thus our feeling that we make free choices is justa result of our ignorance of the real causes of ouractions.
F But if determinism is true, why argue about it –aren’t our responses to the arguments in favor ofit already determined?
libertarianism
libertarianism
William James1842 – 1910
Of two alternative futureswhich we conceive, both maynow be really possible; andthe one become impossibleonly at that very momentwhen the other excludes it bybecoming real itself.
libertarianism
F Libertarians defend our common sense conceptionof ourselves as free agents.
F We feel like we are making choices freely and arenot being caused to do one thing or another.
F But can we trust our feelings about the causes ofour actions?
F Doesn’t science often violate common sense andshow us the hidden causes of things?
libertarianism
F Libertarians defend our common sense conceptionof ourselves as free agents.
F We feel like we are making choices freely and arenot being caused to do one thing or another.
F But can we trust our feelings about the causes ofour actions?
F Doesn’t science often violate common sense andshow us the hidden causes of things?
libertarianism
F Libertarians defend our common sense conceptionof ourselves as free agents.
F We feel like we are making choices freely and arenot being caused to do one thing or another.
F But can we trust our feelings about the causes ofour actions?
F Doesn’t science often violate common sense andshow us the hidden causes of things?
libertarianism
F Libertarians defend our common sense conceptionof ourselves as free agents.
F We feel like we are making choices freely and arenot being caused to do one thing or another.
F But can we trust our feelings about the causes ofour actions?
F Doesn’t science often violate common sense andshow us the hidden causes of things?
compatibilism
compatibilism
W.T. Stace1886 – 1967
Acts freely done are thosewhose immediate causes arepsychological state in theagent. Acts not freely doneare those whose immediatecauses are states of affairsexternal to the agent.
compatibilism
F Perhaps free acts are not uncaused acts, but actscaused by the right kinds of causes.
F Free acts are autonomous – a result of ourdeliberate attempts to govern ourselves and notby swayed by outside influences.
F But what if we fail to live up to the standard ofacting autonomously, is this fact caused bysomething outside of our control?
compatibilism
F Perhaps free acts are not uncaused acts, but actscaused by the right kinds of causes.
F Free acts are autonomous – a result of ourdeliberate attempts to govern ourselves and notby swayed by outside influences.
F But what if we fail to live up to the standard ofacting autonomously, is this fact caused bysomething outside of our control?
compatibilism
F Perhaps free acts are not uncaused acts, but actscaused by the right kinds of causes.
F Free acts are autonomous – a result of ourdeliberate attempts to govern ourselves and notby swayed by outside influences.
F But what if we fail to live up to the standard ofacting autonomously, is this fact caused bysomething outside of our control?
compare and contrast
compare and contrast
F Acting freely can be contrasted with beingcoerced.
F Only someone who is autonomous orself-governing is free in this sense.
compare and contrast
I’m not going to work becauseI quit.
compare and contrast
I’m not going to work becauseI quit.
I’m not going to work becauseI got fired.
compare and contrast
I’m not going to work becauseI quit.
I’m not going to work becauseI got fired.
We are free to leave a job because it doesn’t suitour well-considered plans, but given the role ofbosses in our society, getting fired leaves us withno say in the matter.
compare and contrast
I gave some money to thecharity because I wanted tohelp.
compare and contrast
I gave some money to thecharity because I wanted tohelp.
I gave some money to the manwho pointed a gun at me.
compare and contrast
I gave some money to thecharity because I wanted tohelp.
I gave some money to the manwho pointed a gun at me.
Threats of force are ways of coercing us by pre-senting us with offers we cannot reasonably refusewhile acts of charity are our own choices, unless weare swayed by heavy handed emotional appeals.
compare and contrast
compare and contrast
I take drugs because I want torelax after a long day at work.
compare and contrast
I take drugs because I want torelax after a long day at work.
I take drugs because I amhopelessly addicted and I can’tstop myself.
compare and contrast
I take drugs because I want torelax after a long day at work.
I take drugs because I amhopelessly addicted and I can’tstop myself.
Addictions push us to do things that we often laterregret and compel us to act against our own bestinterests. Responsible use of drugs or alcohol fitsin with our larger goals and self-image.
existentialism and freedom
existentialism and freedom
Jean Paul Sartre1905 – 1980
Freedom is what youdo with what’s beendone to you.
existentialism and freedom
F Existentialism is a philosophical standpointfocused on our experience of our own lives.
F It downplays metaphysical questions about thenature of things and emphasizes the predicamentand dilemmas we find ourselves in – knowing weare going to die and that it is up to us whatmeaning our lives have.
F Freedom for existentialists is built in to thehuman condition – even the refusal to choose issomething we are responsible for.
existentialism and freedom
F Existentialism is a philosophical standpointfocused on our experience of our own lives.
F It downplays metaphysical questions about thenature of things and emphasizes the predicamentand dilemmas we find ourselves in – knowing weare going to die and that it is up to us whatmeaning our lives have.
F Freedom for existentialists is built in to thehuman condition – even the refusal to choose issomething we are responsible for.
existentialism and freedom
F Existentialism is a philosophical standpointfocused on our experience of our own lives.
F It downplays metaphysical questions about thenature of things and emphasizes the predicamentand dilemmas we find ourselves in – knowing weare going to die and that it is up to us whatmeaning our lives have.
F Freedom for existentialists is built in to thehuman condition – even the refusal to choose issomething we are responsible for.
