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The Problem of Free Will
The Problem of Free Will
First, you tell me:
What is the problem (roughly)?
The Computer Analogy:
A computer can only do what it’s been programmed to do.
Its activities are completely caused by its programming.
A person can only do what her beliefs and desires cause her to do.
Her actions are completely caused by her beliefs and desires.
Beliefs +
Desires
Genes
Environment
Actions
Beliefs +
Desires
Genes
Environment
Actions
TheProgram
TheProgrammers
Beliefs +
Desires
Genes
Environment
Actions
TheProgram
TheProgrammers
Two different problems
Creates the problem just mentioned: computers aren’t free to do anything other than what’s specified in their programming.
TheProgrammers
Two different problems
TheProgram
A different problem: The causes of the computer’s actions lie outside the computer itself, so it has no control over its actions.
The computer isn’t the source of its own actions. (The programmers are.)
TheProgrammers
Two different problems
TheProgram
Two Different Problems for Freedom:
1) The Problem of Sourcehood (Sober: “Distant Causation Argument”)
2) The Problem of the Ability To Do Otherwise(Sober: “Could-Not-Have-Done-Otherwise Argument”)
Beliefs +
Desires
Genes
Environment
Actions
The Sourcehood Problem
(Distant Causation)
TheProgrammers
TheAgent
The Sourcehood Problem
(Distant Causation)
The programmers completely cause the program, which completely causes the action.
Genes and environment completely cause beliefs and desires, which completely cause actions.
The Sourcehood Problem
(Distant Causation)
The agent doesn’t control her own actions.
The real causes of action are in the distant past, and this puts them outside the agent’s control.
Beliefs +
Desires
Genes
Environment
Actions
TheAgent
The real causes of action lie outside the agent.
P1) Your genes and environment determine what your actions are.
P2) Your genes and environment are causes outside your control.
P3) If your actions are determined by causes outside your control, then you don’t act freely.
The Problem ofSourcehood
You don’t act freely.
P1) Your genes and environment determine what your actions are.
P2) Your genes and environment are causes outside your control.
P3) If your actions are determined by causes outside your control, then you don’t act freely.
Imagine looking at a menu and trying to decide between two dishes you really want to order.
Now, consider each of these premises in light of that situation.
You don’t act freely.
Two Different Problems for Freedom:
1) The Problem of Sourcehood (Sober: “Distant Causation Argument”)
2) The Problem of the Ability To Do Otherwise(Sober: “Could-Not-Have-Done-Otherwise Argument”)
The Problem of the Ability to Do Otherwise
The programmers completely cause the program, which completely causes the action.
Genes and environment completely cause beliefs and desires, which completely cause actions.
Beliefs +
Desires
Genes
Environment
Actions
TheAgent
TheProgram
TheProgrammers
For a choice to be free, it must at least be possible to choose more than one thing.
If there’s only one thing you can possibly do, then you don’t have freedom to choose.
The Problem of the Ability to Do Otherwise
Given the input ‘5 + 7’, a computer must output ‘12’.
It has no ability to do otherwise.
Given her beliefs and desires, a person must do what they specify.
Once your beliefs and desires are fixed, you have no ability to do otherwise.
The Problem of the Ability to Do Otherwise
Another way to look at it:If you had done otherwise, it wouldn’t show that you were able do things that aren’t specified by your beliefs and desires.
It would just show that you had different beliefs and desires.
The Problem of the Ability to Do Otherwise
P1) Your beliefs and desires determine what your actions are.
P2) If your beliefs and desires determine what your actions are, then you have no ability to do otherwise.
P3) If you have no ability to do otherwise, then you don’t act freely.
The Problem of the Ability to Do Otherwise
You don’t act freely.
The Puzzle of Locke’s Locked RoomA man chooses to stay in a room, talking with a friend.
Before he makes this choice, but while he’s still in the room, someone locks the door from the outside without his knowing it.
So the man makes a choice, but at the time of the choice he isn’t able to do otherwise.
Does the man choose freely?
Two Different Problems for Freedom:
1) The Problem of Sourcehood (Sober: “Distant Causation Argument”)
2) The Problem of the Ability To Do Otherwise(Sober: “Could-Not-Have-Done-Otherwise Argument”)
These two arguments both say that determinism and freedom are incompatible...
P1) Your beliefs and desires determine what your actions are.
P2) If your beliefs and desires determine
what your actions are, then
you have no ability to do otherwise.
P3) If you have no ability to do otherwise, then
you don’t act freely.
You don’t act freely.
P1) Your genes and environment
determine what your actions are. P2) Your genes and
environment are causes
outside your control. P3) If your actions are
determined by causes outside your control, then you don’t act
freely.
You don’t act freely.
The difference between them:
different reasons for incompatibilism
P1) Your beliefs and desires determine what your actions are.
P2) If your beliefs and desires determine
what your actions are, then
you have no ability to do otherwise.
P3) If you have no ability to do otherwise, then
you don’t act freely.
You don’t act freely.
P1) Your genes and environment
determine what your actions are. P2) Your genes and
environment are causes
outside your control. P3) If your actions are
determined by causes outside your control, then you don’t act
freely.
You don’t act freely.
Incompatibilism:
Determinism (of actions) is incompatible with free will.
Note the difference:
Incompatibilism: Determinism and freedom are incompatible.
Determinism: Actions are determined.
Note the difference:
Incompatibilism: Determinism and freedom are incompatible.If determinism is true, we don’t have free will.
Determinism: Actions are determined.Determinism is true.
Note the difference:
Incompatibilism: Determinism and freedom are incompatible.If determinism is true, we don’t have free will.
Philosophers haven’t paid much attention to this question.
Traditionally, determinism seemed more likely, so the classic debate focuses on incompatibilism.
Determinism: Actions are determined.Determinism is true.
Note the difference:
Incompatibilism: Determinism and freedom are incompatible.If determinism is true, we don’t have free will.
Determinism: Actions are determined.Determinism is true.
Note: you can be an incompatiblist whether you believe in determinism or not.
Incompatibilism says you can’t have both determinism and freedom.
It doesn’t say which one to keep.
Incompatibilism says you can’t have both determinism and freedom.
It doesn’t say which one to keep.
Determinism Free Will
Determinism Free Will
Incompatibilism says you can’t have both determinism and freedom.
It doesn’t say which one to keep.
Determinism Free Will Libertarianism
DeterminismHard
DeterminismFree Will
Compatibilism Incompatibilism
Determinism
Free Will
Soft Determinism
Hard Determinism
Libertarianism
Determinism
Free Will
Determinism
Free Will
Compatibilism Incompatibilism
Determinism
Free Will
Soft Determinism
Hard Determinism
Libertarianism
Determinism
Free Will
Determinism
Free Will
Take a minute to consider these three options. Which box would you place yourself in?
What is determinism?
The events of the past, along with the laws of nature, completely “fix” the course of the future.
Given the past and the laws of nature, there is only one way the future can possibly unfold.
What is determinism?
The state of the universe at
one time
The laws of nature+ =
Exactly one state of the
universe at a later time
Given past events and the laws of nature, everything that does happen must happen.No alternative futures are possible.
What is determinism?
Given past events and the laws of nature, everything that does happen must happen.No alternative futures are possible.
Notice that this is a possibility claim.
What is determinism?
Given past events and the laws of nature, everything that does happen must happen.No alternative futures are possible.
Notice that this is a possibility claim.This makes it something more than just a causal claim.
Compare:• A caused B• A caused B, and made B necessary.
What is determinism?
Sometimes causes are just contributing factors—they don’t necessitate what they cause.
Notice that this is a possibility claim.This makes it something more than just a causal claim.
Compare:• A caused B• A caused B, and made B necessary.
What is determinism?
The torpedoes cause the drowning, but they don’t make it necessary.
Without the storm, rescue was still possible.
In a book I’m reading, a boat sinks and an important character drowns.
There are two contributing factors:1) A submarine torpedoes the boat2) A storm prevents the rescue operation
What is determinism?
The torpedoes cause the drowning, but they don’t make it necessary.
Without the storm, rescue was still possible.
Compare:• A caused B• A caused B, and made B necessary.
What is determinism?
Not fatalism.
What’s the difference?
What is determinism?
Not fatalism.
What’s the difference?
If an event is fated, it will happen no matter what—regardless of the events that lead up to it (or the laws of nature).
Determinism says that events depend on the events that lead up to them (and the laws of nature) .
What is determinism?
With regard to free will, what’s important is determinism about actions, in particular.
Genes and environment necessitate actions.
or
Beliefs and desires necessitate actions.
Would indeterminism be better?
Suppose determinism is false. Actions are not necessitated by prior causes.
Discuss in groups. Consider both problems:1) Sourcehood2) Ability To Do Otherwise
Would indeterminism be better?
This helps with the ability to do otherwise...It’s clearly possible for the agent to do more than one thing.
Suppose determinism is false. Actions are not necessitated by prior causes.
But it doesn’t help with sourcehood.If the agent’s beliefs & desires don’t determine what’s going to happen, then the agent doesn’t have control of what’s going to happen.
The agent can’t control her own actions.
Would indeterminism be better?
Suppose determinism is false. Actions are not necessitated by prior causes.
Even if your beliefs and desires do determine your actions, you can still act freely.
Hume’s Compatibilism:(Soft Determinism)
Even if your beliefs and desires do determine your actions, you can still act freely.
Hume’s Compatibilism:(Soft Determinism)
Freedom: ability to do otherwise if you desire. In order to do otherwise, your beliefs and desires would have be otherwise.
Still, they’re your beliefs and desires.
Hume’s Compatibilism:(Soft Determinism)
Freedom: ability to do otherwise if you desire. In order to do otherwise, your beliefs and desires would have be otherwise.
Still, they’re your beliefs and desires.
Your actions are determined by your beliefs and desires, but you still get to do what you want, so you still have free will.
Should we accept Hume’s redefinition of the word “free”?
Hume’s Compatibilism:(Soft Determinism)
How does this new definition affect the two problems we’ve identified for free will?
-The Sourcehood Problem-The Problem of the Ability To Do Otherwise
