FREE WILL and THE FEAR OF DETERMINISM PAMELA TRACY QUESTIONS ! What is one reason that humans fear determinism? ! What is one way in which you can take away one’s personal responsibility for a crime that they have committed? Topics to cover: ! Free Will and determinism definitions ! The paradox between the two ! The fear of determinism ! Why do we do what we do? ! Personal responsibility What is free will? ! human behavior is not absolutely determined by external causes, but is the result of choices made by an act of will by the person ! 2 or more possibilities ‘genuinely open’ to us when faced with a choice ! Our choice must not be ‘forced’ ! We can change our actions by our own choice and are responsible for our actions ! Freedom of choice in our society today Determinism ! Every event must have a cause ! Human actions are events ! Every human action is therefore caused by something…… ! Events occur as a result of the events which precede them ! The belief in faith and God determining our actions, or choices ! Does God have a plan for each and every one of us? The Free Will/Determinism paradox ! How can we have free will to choose if everything has already been chosen for us? ! Are we free to choose, but constrained inside boundaries? ! Are we in control of the choices we make? The Fear of Determinism ! If free will does not exist, do our actions matter? ! Does understanding human nature explain for all of our actions? Good or evil? ! Does human nature take responsibility for our actions? ! Humans fear accepting the idea of determinism because we want to be in control of our lives Biological influences on decision making ! Genetic makeup ! Cognitive ability to make and understand decisions/choices Environmental influences on decision making ! Environment and upbringing ! Education ! Both are beyond our control Why do we do what we do? ! According to believers of free will: every decision or action made is a free, undetermined choice in which we are not effected by any other forces ! According to determinism: we have the impression of free will, however our actions are predetermined and every action, or choice, has a cause; everything happens for a reason It’s not my fault! ! We do not hold persons morally responsible for their actions if they are: under the influence of powerful drugs/medication, very young, delirious, coerced by another(threatened with a knife), or physically forced. ! These are ways in which personal responsibility can be lifted from someone, including other explanations about human nature Sleepwalking, insane, rape gene? Summery ! Free will states that every decision made is made on ones own value/belief system. This clashes with the idea of… ! Determinism. Which is that everything was meant to happen; we are not in control of the choices we make ! Humans fear determinism because we want control of our lives ! How much should external influences be emphasized? ! Personal responsibility can be lifted if you have the right excuse QUESTIONS ! What is one reason that humans fear determinism? We want to be in control of the choices we make • What is one way in which you can avoid personal responsibility for a crime that you commit? Pick an excuse: insane, sleepwalking or rape gene for example..