The Free-Will ProblemThe Free-Will Problem

Appendix to Chapter 9Appendix to Chapter 9

TOK IITOK II

Free-Will - DefinedFree-Will - Defined Do we truly have free will?Do we truly have free will?1.1. The ability or discretion to choose; The ability or discretion to choose;

free choice: free choice: chose to remain behind chose to remain behind of my own free will.of my own free will.

2.2. The power of making free choices The power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external that are unconstrained by external circumstances or by an agency circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will.such as fate or divine will.

[Middle English fre wil, translation of Late [Middle English fre wil, translation of Late Latin līberum arbitrium : Latin līberum, Latin līberum arbitrium : Latin līberum, neuter of līber, free + Latin arbitrium, will.]neuter of līber, free + Latin arbitrium, will.]

Why is Free-Will Important?Why is Free-Will Important?

Every time you praise or criticize Every time you praise or criticize someone’s actions, you are someone’s actions, you are simply assuming that they are simply assuming that they are free and could have done free and could have done otherwise.otherwise.

To deny its existence is to rob To deny its existence is to rob us of our dignity and reduce us us of our dignity and reduce us to the status of biological to the status of biological machines.machines.

DeterminismDeterminism The universe operates in The universe operates in

accordance with the accordance with the causal causal principleprinciple that every event has a that every event has a cause.cause.

Our past actions can be traced Our past actions can be traced to factors beyond out control, to factors beyond out control, thereby robbing us of free-will.thereby robbing us of free-will.

Supported by genetics – we Supported by genetics – we inherit traits from our parents.inherit traits from our parents.

DeterminismDeterminism

Brain chemistry & physics Brain chemistry & physics support determinism:support determinism:When you raise your arm, it is When you raise your arm, it is

the result of chemical and the result of chemical and physical reaction to your physical reaction to your mental state – brain mental state – brain chemistry.chemistry.

Is free-will an illusion?Is free-will an illusion?

Pierre LaPlace (1749-1827)Pierre LaPlace (1749-1827)

He argued that He argued that every event in the every event in the universe has been universe has been rigorously rigorously determined by the determined by the previous one, and previous one, and it is – in principle at it is – in principle at least – possible to least – possible to predict the entire predict the entire future of the future of the universe.universe.

Does Determinism threaten Does Determinism threaten Free-Will?Free-Will?

Free-will believers believe we do Free-will believers believe we do still have options and, at least still have options and, at least sometimes, we are capable of sometimes, we are capable of exercising them and making free exercising them and making free decisions.decisions.

Fatalism – destiny is written in Fatalism – destiny is written in the stars and there is nothing the stars and there is nothing you can do to change it.you can do to change it.

Responses to the Free-Will Responses to the Free-Will ProblemProblem 1. reject the claim that every event 1. reject the claim that every event

has a cause and argues this leaves has a cause and argues this leaves room for free will.room for free will.

2. accept determinism, but insist 2. accept determinism, but insist free-will and determinism are free-will and determinism are compatible with each other.compatible with each other.

3. accept determinism and conclude 3. accept determinism and conclude that, no matter how unpalatable it that, no matter how unpalatable it might be, free-will is an illusion.might be, free-will is an illusion.

Does EVERY Event have a Does EVERY Event have a cause?cause?

It seems It seems reasonable that if reasonable that if we look hard we look hard enough, we can enough, we can find a cause for find a cause for every event – we every event – we have to look have to look harder for some harder for some things than others.things than others.

Subatomic RandomnessSubatomic Randomness

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle – it is impossible to Principle – it is impossible to know both the position and know both the position and velocity of subatomic particles – velocity of subatomic particles – denies determinism.denies determinism.

HOWEVER – anything larger HOWEVER – anything larger than the subatomic level is than the subatomic level is cause and effect.cause and effect.

Capturing a Free ActionCapturing a Free Action

Moment of hesitation = Free-Moment of hesitation = Free-Will- when we look at menu Will- when we look at menu choices and choose.choices and choose.

Even if it is impossible to Even if it is impossible to explain free-will in scientific explain free-will in scientific terms, most of us agree it terms, most of us agree it exists.exists.

Feeling of Freedom – An Feeling of Freedom – An Illusion?Illusion?

Baruch Spinoza (1632-77) – Baruch Spinoza (1632-77) – perhaps we are simply puppets perhaps we are simply puppets that are unaware of the causal that are unaware of the causal strings which are pulling us.strings which are pulling us.

The UniverseThe UniverseOrderly – events are causalOrderly – events are causalChaotic – events are not Chaotic – events are not

casualcasual

Free-Will & Determinism: Free-Will & Determinism: Compatible?Compatible?

Cigarette AddictionsCigarette Addictions

1.1. Is freedom just doing Is freedom just doing what you want?what you want?

2.2. Can we control our Can we control our desires?desires?

3.3. Could you have done Could you have done otherwise?otherwise?

Is Free-Will an Illusion?Is Free-Will an Illusion?

Determinism says that free-will Determinism says that free-will is an illusion.is an illusion.

There is no such thing as moral There is no such thing as moral responsibility or rationality.responsibility or rationality.

Most people would say that Most people would say that ignoring morality and virtues is ignoring morality and virtues is too high a price to pay for too high a price to pay for accepting determinism.accepting determinism.

Does Determinism Undermine Does Determinism Undermine Ethics?Ethics? In a deterministic world:In a deterministic world:

Good people can’t help being Good people can’t help being good.good.

Bad people can’t help being bad.Bad people can’t help being bad. Criminals are not responsible for Criminals are not responsible for

their bad genes or environment their bad genes or environment but a determinist believes that but a determinist believes that criminals must be punished to 1) criminals must be punished to 1) protect society, & 2) modify their protect society, & 2) modify their future behavior.future behavior.

Does Determinism Undermine Does Determinism Undermine Ethics?Ethics? Retribution theoryRetribution theory – justifies – justifies

punishing criminals on the punishing criminals on the grounds that they deserve it.grounds that they deserve it.

Reform theoryReform theory – justifies – justifies punishing those who are willing punishing those who are willing to change their behavior.to change their behavior.

PunishmentPunishment, unless it leads to , unless it leads to reform, is viewed as a crime by reform, is viewed as a crime by determinists.determinists.

Does Determinism Undermine Does Determinism Undermine Rationality?Rationality?

Reasoning implies that we are Reasoning implies that we are free to believe or not believe free to believe or not believe something.something.

If our environment and genes If our environment and genes make up who we are, then why make up who we are, then why do we bother talking? – no room do we bother talking? – no room for language in a deterministic for language in a deterministic realm.realm.

ConclusionConclusion

There is no easy solution There is no easy solution for the free-will problem.for the free-will problem.

There are limits to There are limits to knowledge and some knowledge and some things simply lie beyond things simply lie beyond human understanding.human understanding.

HomeworkHomeworkAnswer questions Answer questions

page 289 (1-4), 292 page 289 (1-4), 292 (1-3), & 293 (1-2), (1-3), & 293 (1-2), 294 (1-2), (1-2), 295 294 (1-2), (1-2), 295 (1-3), 298 (1-7), & (1-3), 298 (1-7), & 299 (1-2). 299 (1-2).