Determinism: All events (including human actions) have specific causes

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Determinism All events (including human actions)
have specific causes

• Baron dHolbach the brain is material its
  actions (e.g., thought, will) are dictated by
  physical laws, heredity, and environment

(1723-89)
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(Hard) Determinism

• Behavior is caused by unconscious desires and
  fears (Freud) or environment and heredity
  (Skinner). Freedom is an illusion people are not
  responsible for their actionsthough they can be
  held responsible for social purposes
• Objections how we can challenge or change our
  attitudes if we are determined? Why not explain
  behavior with reasons, not causes?

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Compatibilism/Soft Determinismfreedom is
compatible with determinism
Hume

• A free act is simply one that is caused (i.e.,
  preceded) by our choice or act of will. We are
  free when we can do what we want.

(free)
choice/will/personality
cause
act
external threats/constraints
(not free)
cause
Objection arent choices caused by external
forces (e.g., genetics, culture, upbringing)?
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In Defense of Free WillThomas Reid
(1710-96)

• We are conscious of exerting our wills,
  deliberating, and thinking of ourselves as free
  to have done otherwise
• If we are not free, regret, guilt, and holding
  others responsible for actions make no sense

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Freedom - Determinism Theories

• Indeterminism like sub-atomic events, free
  actions are unpredictable, because nothing causes
  them
• Objection if free human actions are chance or
  random events, then we could not control our
  free actions or be responsible for them
• Agency Theory our free choices define our
  selves this is what we experience (and is what
  our theory should explain)
• Objection how can we be both cause effect?