Free Bachelor of Philosophy: Free Will and Determinism Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: All of the moral and mental qualities that people believe to be proof of an immaterial soul, in d'Holbach's view, are actually _____.
- ethereal
- undetermined
- purely intellectual
- purely physical and natural (Correct answer)
Correct answer: purely physical and natural
Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach, was a leading proponent of materialism in the Enlightenment. He argued that all phenomena, including human consciousness, morality, and mental qualities, are entirely products of physical processes and natural laws, rejecting any notion of an immaterial soul or supernatural influence.
Question 2: Hard determinism is in contrast with _____, claims Taylor.
- the fact of deliberation and indeterminism
- the findings of science
- scientific determinism (Correct answer)
- the fact of deliberation and our sense that some actions are up to us
Correct answer: scientific determinism
Richard Taylor, in his philosophical work on determinism, often contrasts hard determinism with other concepts. Hard determinism asserts that all events, including human actions, are causally determined, thus negating free will. Taylor might contrast this philosophical conclusion with the broader, more descriptive concept of scientific determinism, which simply states that events are governed by cause and effect, without necessarily drawing the same strong philosophical implications about human agency.
Question 3: It follows from soft determinism that _____.
- the thesis of determinism is false
- the thesis of determinism is true (Correct answer)
- we are free to choose our desires
- there are no restraints on human behavior
Correct answer: the thesis of determinism is true
Soft determinism, also known as compatibilism, is the philosophical position that free will and determinism are compatible. A fundamental aspect of soft determinism is its acceptance that the thesis of determinism—the idea that all events are causally determined—is true. However, it argues that this determinism does not preclude moral responsibility or a meaningful sense of freedom, which it defines as acting according to one's desires without external coercion.
Question 4: To the soft determinist, saying you could have done something else is equivalent to saying you would have done something other if ____.
- your desires had been different (Correct answer)
- your desires played no role in your decisions
- your desires were always the same
- your desires were completely under your control
Correct answer: your desires had been different
Soft determinists reconcile free will with determinism by redefining what it means to 'could have done otherwise.' They argue that an action is free if it stems from one's own desires, intentions, and character, even if those internal states are themselves determined. Therefore, 'you could have done something else' implies that you would have acted differently if your underlying desires or motivations had been different.
Question 5: Sartre asserts that the belief that _____ is shared by all existentialists.
- existence is a myth
- existence precedes essence (Correct answer)
- essence precedes existence
- objectivity must be a starting point
Correct answer: existence precedes essence
Jean-Paul Sartre's famous dictum, 'existence precedes essence,' is a cornerstone of existentialist philosophy. It means that for human beings, there is no predefined nature, purpose, or blueprint (essence) that dictates who they are before they come into being. Instead, individuals first exist, and then, through their choices and actions, they create their own essence and define their own meaning.
Question 6: According to Sartre, there is at least one being, and this being is _____, in which existence comes before essence.
- future man
- God
- man (Correct answer)
- primitive man
Correct answer: man
Sartre explicitly states that 'man' (human beings) is the unique being for whom existence precedes essence. Unlike objects or even a divine creator, humans are not born with a predetermined purpose or nature. Instead, they are condemned to be free, constantly defining themselves through their choices and actions in a world without inherent meaning.
Question 7: According to James, indeterminism permits the existence of _____ in the world.
- a fixed future
- no shadow of turning
- no ambiguous possibilities
- ambiguous possibilities (Correct answer)
Correct answer: ambiguous possibilities
William James was a strong advocate for indeterminism, arguing against the idea of a completely predetermined universe. He believed that indeterminism allows for genuine 'ambiguous possibilities' or 'real possibilities' in the future, meaning that the future is not fixed. This perspective supports the notion of free will, as human choices can genuinely influence which of these open possibilities become actualized.
Free Bachelor of Philosophy: Free Will and Determinism Questions and Answers
All of the moral and mental qualities that people believe to be proof of an immaterial soul, in d'Holbach's view, are actually _____.