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Free Will and Determinism Determinism: given a specified way things are at a time t, the way things go thereafter is fixed as a matter of natural law (all future facts are fixed). Determinism: given a specified way things are at a time t, the way things go thereafter is fixed as a matter of natural law (all future facts are fixed). Obvious threat to free will: if I am a physical thing, and physical things act in accordance with natural law, then everything I do is a function of (1) initial conditions and (2) natural law. Obvious threat to free will: if I am a physical thing, and physical things act in accordance with natural law, then everything I do is a function of (1) initial conditions and (2) natural law. Different notion: fatalism: that certain events will happen no matter what you want or choose. Different notion: fatalism: that certain events will happen no matter what you want or choose. 2

possible answers: possible answers: Incompatibilist views: Incompatibilist views: Hard Determinism: determinism is true, so no free will. Hard Determinism: determinism is true, so no free will. Libertarianism: free will is true, and so determinism is false. Libertarianism: free will is true, and so determinism is false. Compatibilist view: Compatibilist view: Soft Determinism: determinism is true, but we have free will. Soft Determinism: determinism is true, but we have free will. 3

Our focus: incompatibilism What is it about determinism that threatens free will? 3 plausible views here. What is it about determinism that threatens free will? 3 plausible views here. If my life is already set in stone, then I am not in control of my life. If my life is already set in stone, then I am not in control of my life. If my life is already set in stone, then my thoughts and efforts do not matters to how my life goes. If my life is already set in stone, then my thoughts and efforts do not matters to how my life goes. If my life is already set in stone, then for any action I do, I could not have done otherwise. If my life is already set in stone, then for any action I do, I could not have done otherwise. 4

Determinism and Control Idea: Determinism rules out being in control of your life, and being self-controlling is required for free will. Idea: Determinism rules out being in control of your life, and being self-controlling is required for free will. Seems like being in control of your choices is required. Seems like being in control of your choices is required. But not clear whether determinism by itself means you are not self-controlling. Ex. Wumpus machine, etc. But not clear whether determinism by itself means you are not self-controlling. Ex. Wumpus machine, etc. 5

Thoughts & Efforts Mattering Idea: If the future of my life is determined, then none of my thoughts or efforts really matter. Idea: If the future of my life is determined, then none of my thoughts or efforts really matter. Seems like thoughts, desires, choices, do matter to freedom. Seems like thoughts, desires, choices, do matter to freedom. Seems like fatalism implies thoughts don’t matter. Opposite for determinism. Seems like fatalism implies thoughts don’t matter. Opposite for determinism. On a materialist view of the mind… although dualistic minds could also be deterministic. On a materialist view of the mind… although dualistic minds could also be deterministic. 6

First problem with “could have done otherwise” argument Idea: if true, determinism means that for any action, I could not have done otherwise. But if a decision is really up to me, I need to have been able to have done otherwise. So, determinism rules out free will. Idea: if true, determinism means that for any action, I could not have done otherwise. But if a decision is really up to me, I need to have been able to have done otherwise. So, determinism rules out free will. 2 ways this argument seems problematic. 2 ways this argument seems problematic. 2 importantly different senses of “could have done otherwise” 2 importantly different senses of “could have done otherwise” “could have done otherwise” doesn’t seem required. “could have done otherwise” doesn’t seem required. 7

2 questions we might ask: 1. “Could I have done otherwise, even if everything was exactly the same?” 1. “Could I have done otherwise, even if everything was exactly the same?” This is certainly ruled out by determinism. This is certainly ruled out by determinism. Being able to have done otherwise in this sense does not seem required for free choice; in fact, maybe this would rule out free will. Being able to have done otherwise in this sense does not seem required for free choice; in fact, maybe this would rule out free will. 8

“Could I have done otherwise, if I had wanted to?” “Could I have done otherwise, if I had wanted to?” This is not ruled out by determinism. This is not ruled out by determinism. This does seem important for free will, but again determinism by itself doesn’t rule this out. This does seem important for free will, but again determinism by itself doesn’t rule this out. 9

Second problem with “could have done otherwise” argument Seems like there are cases where I could not have done otherwise, but actions are still free. Ex: the nefarious bioengineer. Seems like there are cases where I could not have done otherwise, but actions are still free. Ex: the nefarious bioengineer. 10

Free Will / Determinism mismatch Seems like the issue of free will might not depend on determinism at all. Seems like the issue of free will might not depend on determinism at all. Making my actions more a function of randomness can’t make them more “up to me.” Making my actions more a function of randomness can’t make them more “up to me.” 11