PHILOSOPHY 100 (Ted Stolze) Notes on James Rachels, Problems from Philosophy

Chapters Eight and Nine: The Debate over Human Freedom

Three Basic Positions regarding the Metaphysical Analysis of Human Freedom Determinism = “no human actions are free” Libertarianism = “at least some human actions are free” Compatibilism = “all human actions are both free and determined at the same time”

Three Ways to Test the Plausibility of a Philosophical Theory Case study (e.g., Leopold/Loeb) Scientific experiment (e.g., Milgram, Twins studies) Thought experiment (e.g., Frankfurt’s “Willing addict”)

The Determinist Argument 1. Everything we do is caused by forces over which we have no control. 2. If our actions are caused by forces over which we have no control, we do not act freely. 3. Therefore, we never act freely. NOTE: If you challenge premise #1, then you are defending a version of libertarianism. However, if you challenge premise #2, then you are defending a version of compatibilism.

Two Types of Determinism Social-Psychological (Situational) Genetic Neurological

Three Human Behavior Experiments Obedience to Authority (Stanley Milgram) Stanford Prison (Philip Zimbardo) Good Samaritan (J.M. Darley and C.D. Batson)

Genetic Determinism Twin studies People are born good or bad

Neurological Determinism Benjamin Libet’s Experiments (http://youtu.be/fJPwULN7cYo)

Four Libertarian Responses The argument from experience The argument that the world is not a deterministic system The argument that we cannot predict our own decisions (see Richard Holton on “frustrators”: https://youtu.be/iSfXdNIolQA) The argument from accountability

Two More Arguments for Human Freedom (*) The experience of anxiety when making a decision (Jean-Paul Sartre) The experience of willpower or self-control when not yielding to temptation and maintaining a resolution (Richard Holton) (*) Not covered in Rachels

A Compatibilist Attempt at Reconciliation “Free” doesn’t mean uncaused but only uncoerced; “thus, whether your behavior is free does not depend on whether it is caused; it only depends on how it is caused” (p. 126)

An Objection to Compatibilism Basically it’s just a soft version of determinism

Freedom and Moral Responsibility If we lack free will, then moral deliberation makes no sense. If we lack free will, then we cannot hold people responsible for what they do.

Criteria of Moral and Legal Responsibility 1. You must have done the act in question. 2. The act must in some sense have been wrong. 3. You must have no excuse for having done it.

Examples of Excuses Mistake Accident Coercion Ignorance Insanity