Hard Determinism

Hard Determinism

1. In the mind there is no absolute or free will, The mind wants this, because it has been determined by other causes, and cause before that and so on.

   • We are not free or responsible for out actions, in any way at all. i.e. a person cannot be blamed for their violence, violence needs fixing, or if this fails, they need imprisoning.

2. John Hospers (mordern determinist)

   • There is always something, which compels us both externally, and internally to perform an action to perform an action that we think is out own free will.
   • Clarence Darrow – 1924 - he defended two young boys, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, on a charge of murdering a young boy, got let of for death penalty, however got life imprisonment, the reason for their murder was the product of their upbringing.
   • Modern determinism points to our genetic heritage, social conditioning or subconscious influences, the most extreme is behaviourism.

3. Psychological behaviourism

   • John B. Watson
     • Behaviour can be predicted and controlled, as people live and act in a determined universe so that all humans behaviour, including ethical decisions.
     • Behaviour is influenced, according to Watson. by heredity and environment - nature and nurture. By manipulating the environment, people behaviour can be altered.
   • Ivan Pavlov
     • conditioned dogs to salivate to the sound of the bell. we are also know this by the bell of a school bell, We are not always conditioned by our environment, but will use it to get what we want.
       • Know as operant Conditioning
         • B.F Skinner
           • Behavioural science and psychologists learn to determine and control human behaviour, human behaviour is not free but determined
             • Moral behaviour is what you ought not to do, but if you could have not done anything else you cannot be blamed for your actions

4. steven pinker - looked at Darwin & Developed by Richard Dawkins

   • Emotions - Guilt, anger, sympathy and love all have biological basis- our moral reasoning is a result of natural selection not the end of moral responsibility
   • Whatever you do does not excuses you to sleeping around or violence- moral sense is innate in us

5. ISSAC NEWTON- Influential

   • The world is seen as a mechanism dominant by the laws of cause and effect.
   • FREEDOM IS JUST AN ILLUSION - we choose freely because we do not know what causes lie behind it

6. HARD DETERMINISM

   • ALL HUMANS ACTIONS HAVE PIROR CAUSES
   • WE DO NOT MAKE FREE MORAL CHOICES
   • WE ARE NOT MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS

7. Evaluating Hard Determinism

   • We cannot blame or praise people for there actions
   • People are not morally responsible, so people do not deserve blame for cold blooded evil actions
   • All choices are Illusions
   • Rejects the idea of punishment
   • All horrible things that happen in the world had to happen- this is pessimistic