Chapter 9 Are We Free or Determined.ppt

Chapter 9: Are We Free or Determined? Introduction Determinism – all events are caused Fatalism – events are predetermined by some impersonal cosmic force or power Predestination – events are predetermined by some personal power Problem of freedom and determinism – If all events are caused, then how can any human action be free? Introduction The dilemma Human choice is either free or not free If it is free, then the law of causality is false If it is not free, then people are not responsible for their actions Therefore, either the law of causality is false, or people are not responsible for their actions The Case of Dr. SvengaliJonathan Harrison Uses science fiction to explore issues of freedom and determinism Dr. Svengali is able to determine the actions of the housekeeper, but he is unable to successfully control her will without unwanted consequences We Are Determined Hard determinism – every event has a cause that is incompatible with free will Simple determinism is not necessarily incompatible with free will Not Guilty Robert Blatchford Blatchford denies that humans are free to rise above heredity and environment Rewards and punishments cannot be based on human responsibility A man is free to act as he chooses to act, but what causes him to choose? We Are Free Libertarianism – some human choices, such as moral choices for which we are responsible, are not determined by antecedent events ExistentialismJean-Paul Sartre Existentialism – existence precedes essence. Man defines himself after he exists If human nature is not predetermined but is something that we create as we make decisions, then we are radically free Karma and Freedom The law of karma states that as each sows, he shall reap. Past and present actions determine future spiritual, moral, and physical conditions The perfect law of moral justice operates automatically in the universe Karma and FreedomSarvepalli Radhakrishnan Radhakrishnan supports a type of libertarianism Agent causation – when