Determinism vs Free Will: Crash Course Philosophy #24

Summary

In this Crash Course Philosophy episode, the concepts of libertarian free will and hard determinism are explored. Libertarian free will suggests that humans can act freely,不受任何先前事件的影响，而硬决定论则认为每一个事件都是由前一个事件引起的，从而否定了自由意志的存在。通过探讨这些哲学观点，视频挑战了我们对自由意志的直觉性理解，并提出了一个关键问题：我们的行为是否真的由我们自己控制，还是由一系列不可避免的因素决定的？

Takeaways

• 🧐 The story of Oedipus illustrates the concept of fate and the idea that some outcomes are unavoidable, regardless of our actions.
• 🕶 Libertarian free will suggests that humans have the ability to make decisions that are not determined by prior events or circumstances.
• 🔗 The Principle of Alternate Possibilities is a key tenet of libertarianism, stating that an action is only free if the agent could have genuinely chosen to do otherwise.
• 🔄 Hard determinism posits that every event, including human actions, is the inevitable result of a chain of causes and effects, leaving no room for free will.
• 🤔 The debate between libertarian free will and hard determinism challenges the compatibility of free will with a deterministic universe.
• 🧠 Agent causation is a concept within libertarianism that argues conscious beings can initiate new causal chains independent of physical determinism.
• 🧬 Reductionism, a view often associated with hard determinism, claims that complex phenomena, including human decisions, can be reduced to simpler physical states.
• 🤷‍♂️ The feeling of freedom is a subjective experience that libertarians argue should be taken seriously, even if it lacks objective validation.
• 🔮 Determinists argue that our beliefs, desires, and temperaments are themselves determined, leading to actions that are inevitable, not free.
• 🍲 The example of choosing breakfast illustrates how our decisions may seem free but are actually influenced by a complex interplay of determined factors.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the Crash Course Philosophy episode discussed in the transcript?

The main theme of the episode is the philosophical debate between libertarian free will and hard determinism, exploring the concepts of free will and determinism in human actions.

According to the ancient Greek legend mentioned, what prophecy was made about Oedipus?

The prophecy was that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother.

Why was baby Oedipus left in the wilderness by his father?

His father left him there to avoid the prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother, assuming that if Oedipus died, the prophecy would not come true.

What is the Principle of Alternate Possibilities in the context of libertarian free will?

The Principle of Alternate Possibilities states that an action is free only if the agent could have done otherwise, implying that truly free actions require having options.

How does libertarianism differ from political libertarianism?

Libertarianism in the context of free will is about the metaphysical freedom to act, whereas political libertarianism is about minimizing government intervention and maximizing individual liberty.

What is event causation as opposed to agent causation?

Event causation refers to the idea that no physical event can occur without being caused by a previous physical event, suggesting a deterministic physical world. Agent causation, on the other hand, is the concept that an agent, propelled by a mind, can initiate a causal chain not caused by anything else.

What is hard determinism and how does it relate to the concept of free will?

Hard determinism is the view that all events, including human actions, are the inevitable results of an unbroken chain of causes and effects, leaving no room for free will.

What is reductionism in the context of the philosophical discussion on free will?

Reductionism is the view that all aspects of the world and our experiences can be reduced to a singular fundamental thing, often implying that mental states are reducible to brain states, which are physical and deterministic.

How does the concept of personal responsibility fit into the discussion on hard determinism?

In the context of hard determinism, the concept of personal responsibility is challenged because if all actions are determined by prior causes, then individuals are not truly making free choices and thus may not be morally responsible for their actions.

What is Baron D’Holbach's view on human actions and freedom?

Baron D’Holbach believed that none of our actions are actually free, and everything we do is the inevitable result of what came before, making us 'cogs in a machine' without actual volition.

What alternative options are discussed in the script to possibly escape the deterministic view of human actions?

The script discusses the idea of having someone else choose for you or relying on randomness, such as flipping a coin, as potential ways to escape determinism. However, it concludes that even these actions are determined by prior factors.