Free Bachelor of Philosophy: Free Will and Determinism 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 _____.

Accepted Answer

purely physical and natural

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

scientific determinism

Answer

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 _____.

Accepted Answer

the thesis of determinism is true

Answer

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 ____.

Accepted Answer

your desires had been different

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

existence precedes essence

Answer

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.

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhB Bachelor of Philosophy Practice Test

Free Bachelor of Philosophy: Free Will and Determinism Questions and Answers