The Debate over Free Will

Hard Determinism

Version #1: Laplace’s Demon: Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749-1827)

Given for one instant an intelligence which could comprehend all forces by which nature is animated and the respective situation of the beings who compose it … nothing would be uncertain and the future, as the past, would be present to its eyes.

Version #2: God: John Calvin (1509-1564)

When we attribute foreknowledge to God, we mean that all things have ever been, and perpetually remain, before His eyes, so that to His knowledge … all things are present; … He has determined in Himself what would have become of every individual of mankind. … Eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others.

1. If Laplace’s Demon knows that I will do X tomorrow, then it is true that I will do X tomorrow

2. If it is true that I will do X tomorrow, then I cannot possibly not do X tomorrow

3. If I cannot possibly not do X tomorrow, then I am not free to do X tomorrow

4. \If Laplace’s Demon knows that I will do X tomorrow, then I am not free to do X tomorrow.

Laplace’s Demon (or Calvin’s God) & the Book of Your Life

Hard Determinism and Morality

1. All events have prior causes

2. Our actions are events

3. \Our actions are determined by the past

4. If our actions are determined by the past, then we have no power to act otherwise

5. If we have no power to act otherwise, then we can take no free actions

6. \There are no free actions

7. If there are no free actions, no one can be held responsible for what she does or fails to do

8. \No one can be held responsible for what she does or fails to do.

Two Arguments Against Determinism

Determinism is self-defeating

1. If determinism is true, no one believes anything because they have a good reason for believing it

2. If no one believes anything because they have a good reason for believing it, no beliefs are rational

3. \If determinism is true, no beliefs are rational

4. \If determinism is true, then it is not rational to believe that determinism is true

Responsibility

1. If Determinism is true, then we have no free will

2. If we have no free will, then we are not responsible for our actions

3. We are responsible for our actions

4. \Determinism is false

Can Indeterminism Save Free Will?

1. Claim: at least some events/actions are simply uncaused

a. Sub atomic particles

b. Schrodinger’s Cat

2. Problem: this does not preserve personal responsibility!

Soft Determinism (aka Compatibilism)

1. Attempt to combine

a. All events are caused

b. We are nonetheless free

2. The mugger & the vagrant

3. Free = caused by your own will

Version #1: Traditional Compatibilism

1. An action is free if

a. The action is caused by the will of the agent

b. The action is not forced

2. I am free (and so, also responsible) if the action is caused by my internal states

a. Desires,

b. beliefs,

c. hopes,

3. Forced actions are not free actions

a. Key question: could you have done otherwise?

b. Parallel to legal conception of freedom regarding responsibility

Version #2: Deep Self-Compatibilism

1. Problem with Traditional Compatibilism

a. Sometimes our desires, wishes, etc. are different from our will

i. Addiction

ii. Brain washing

2. An action is free if

a. The action is caused by the will of the agent

b. That will is the agent’s authentic will

c. The action is not forced

The fundamental problem with soft determinism

1. Having a desire precedes acting on that desire

2. The desire causes the action

3. The decision to buy a hot dog at 11:00 am was causally determined by a desire for a hot dog at 10:59.

i. How could the actor do other than decide to buy the hot dog?

Libertarianism

Event Causation vs. Agent Causation

1. Agents have Special Causal Powers

Fred the World Maker

2. Creation of physical universe is caused by Fred’s action

3. Fred’s actions were not causally determined by prior events

a. With the Determinist: actions are caused by agents

b. With the Indeterminist: agents themselves are not caused to act

4. We’re all a little bit Fred

Advantages

5. #1: We have control over our actions & responsibility for them

6. #2: Agents have the power to do otherwise

Problem

7. Too much metaphysical baggage

a. Agent Causation

i. Free actions would all have the status of miracles

ii. Agent causation doesn’t seem to be different from event causation

iii. Dualism seems to need to be assumed

1. Doesn’t explain the special causal powers

2. Doesn’t explain how the agent could have done otherwise

b. Agent

i. Substances

ii. Agents are fundamental entities

1. Why is this so?