Determinism: varieties

Determinism: varieties

1. Defined

   • Syllabus
     • 'the belief that a determinate set of conditions
       • Can ONLY produce
         • one possible outcome
           • due to the fixed laws of nature
   • universal causation
     • every event- that happens
       • has a cause
         • 'even if we don't know the cause
           • we don't allow that something just happened'
   • Causal necessity
     • given the total set of conditions
       • under which the cause occurs
         • only one effect is possible

2. causal necessity

   • regularity:
     • the same cause will operate in the same way
       • on different occasions
     • if the usual effect fails to follow
       • there MUST be something different about the situation
     • we need to consider anything that may have an effect
       • the situation in which effect must follow cause
         • is the entire state of the universe
           • at that moment

3. Physical Determinism

   • everything that happens in the physical universe
     • is determined by the state of the universe + laws of nature
       • E.g. every decision is determined by the previous state of my brain
   • if we could know the position of every particle in the universe + the laws of nature
     • in principle
       • every future physical event could be predicted
         • E.g. every movement of your body
         • Prediction and freedom
           • Being able to predict what someone will do
             • isn't enough to show that they aren't free
               • Preferences
               • Character traits
           • It depends on whether
             • the basis for prediction RULES OUT
               • the possibility that a different action can't happen.

4. Hard determinism and Libertarianism

   • Agree:
     • If physical determinism is true, we don't have free will
   • Hard determinism
     • Physical determinism is true
       • Therefore, we don't have free will
   • Libertarianism
     • WE have free will
       • Therefore, physical determinism is false

5. Chance and determinism

   • Chaos theory
     • a tiny change in cause can have a big effect
     • This is not only compatible with determinism- it depends on it
   • Quantum mechanics
     • A theory about sub-atomic particles
       • Some believe that there is genuine randomness at this level
         • or that quantum states are not determinate
         • E.g. Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle:
           • you cannot accurately measure the velocity and position of an electron simultaneously
             • Is this because it doesn't have a precise velocity/ position until measured?
     • Other physicists reject indeterminacy as 'out there'
       • Schrodinger's equation shows that sub-atomic states change with perfect regualrity
     • Some say that the randomness and indeterminacy
       • reflects limitations on our knowledge
       • quantum indeterminacy does not effect the supra atomic level