Term
|
Definition
|
conceptual difficulty in explaining how we act freely in given standard accounts of causation
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
"the principle of universal casualty"
one's actions is the result of complex/long casual chains of cause and effect
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
human freedom is not compatible with universal casualty
|
|
|
Term
| Paul d'Holbach's Two-prong Rejection of Freedom |
|
Definition
|
1. natural world governed by laws (i.e. gravity)- humans, as physical beings, also subject to those laws
2. humans always act on strongest motivation (we think we're free because we're ignorant to what is motivating us, mistaking fated decisions for free-will)
|
|
|
Term
d'Holbach believed motivations were the
unconscious influence of |
|
Definition
|
temperment, recieved ideas/notions which he has formed himself to happiness, opinions strengthened by education & daily experiences
|
|
|
Term
| argument for hard determinism...(2)the principal of universal causation is true |
|
Definition
|
human behavior can be predicted with great certainty. this would not be possible unless there were deterministic laws governing human behavior
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
with advent of quantum theory, most scientists now believe science no longer looks to discover deterministic laws governing physical phenomena, but try to articulate statistical law grounded in probabilities
|
|
|
Term
| soft determinism/ compatibilism |
|
Definition
|
determinism is truthful, but we can remain free of our choices/actions
|
|
|
Term
| contemporary philosopher Walter T. Stace (soft determinist) |
|
Definition
|
defined freedom- acts freely done are those whose immediate causes are psychological states in the agent...acts not done freely are those whose immediate causes are states of affairs external to the agent. ex. leaving when you are made to leave v. when you want to leave
|
|
|
Term
| ordinary language analysis |
|
Definition
|
Stace used to develop a working definition of what it means to act freely/unfreely; based def on the ordinary language analysis, or how the term is used most in everyday language
|
|
|
Term
| example of soft determinism |
|
Definition
|
the desire to choose something specific for lunch is a result of a long chain of events set in motion prior to birth. acting on that desire is freewill
|
|
|
Term
| the problem with compatibilism |
|
Definition
|
are we in charge of our own psychological states? if we aren't it seems hard determinism is true
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
events are random and uncaused, as are human actions
|
|
|
Term
| whereas event causation understands the process of universal casualty, agent causation understands... |
|
Definition
|
some human actions are the result of an agent w/o being the effect of an earlier cause
|
|
|
Term
| Delimma of human freedom (problem with Libertarianism) |
|
Definition
|
If our actions are uncaused, they are like the motion of subatomic particles. Subatomic motion is unpredictable. Uncaused human action is just as unpredictiable. Thus, such movements merely happen to us without any control of our uncaused actions. No one is responsible for that which is beyond their control, but libertarianism attributes freedom and respobsibility to what we have no control over.
|
|
|
Term
The Matrix Reloaded and Determinism
|
|
Definition
|
through science fiction, idea...is it possible for someone to know what we will do in the future that it underminds the idea we are free to do otherwise?
|
|
|
Term
| The Matrix Reloaded suggests people aren't free from fate |
|
Definition
|
1. suggests we all have some role to play in the greater scheme of things/ that we're cogs in the machine/comp program
2. the universe/matrix is governed by universal casualty
3. the oracle knows what Neo will do before he does it
|
|
|
