Question 1

The hard determinist would claim that your behavior tonight will be the inevitable result of your character, motives, desires, and all the external forces acting upon you.

Accepted Answer

Hard determinism asserts that every event or action, including human behavior, is the result of preceding events in accordance with the laws of nature, meaning one's actions are predetermined by a combination of their character, desires, and external forces.

Question 2

The hard determinist claims that if he knew every detail of the universe at this point in time, he could predict what decisions you would make in the future.

Accepted Answer

Hard determinism holds that all events, including human actions and decisions, are the result of preceding causes, and if one had complete knowledge of all these causes (or the state of the universe), one could predict future events, including human decisions, with certainty.

Question 3

The libertarian believes that if our choices are inevitable, then there is no moral responsibility.

Accepted Answer

Libertarians argue that for moral responsibility to exist, individuals must have free will to make choices; if choices are inevitable or predetermined, then individuals cannot be held morally responsible for them.

Question 4

The libertarian would say that an action is free even if it is the inevitable result of my psychological state, as long as it is not caused by external forces.

Accepted Answer

Libertarians believe in free will and argue that actions are free only if they are not determined by prior states, including psychological states, and are not caused by external forces.

Question 5

Baron D'Holbach believes that we always act according to necessary laws from which we have no means to free ourselves.

Accepted Answer

Baron d'Holbach was a determinist who believed that all events, including human actions, are the result of preceding causes and that we are bound by necessary laws, leaving no room for free will.

Question 6

According to your text, the hypothesis of universal causality can be proven using the scientific method.

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis of universal causality, which posits that every event has a cause, cannot be proven using the scientific method because it is a philosophical assumption rather than an empirically testable claim.

Question 7

According to your text, determinism has received new support from modern neurological science.

Accepted Answer

Modern neurological science has shown that brain activity precedes conscious decisions, suggesting that our choices may be predetermined by brain activity, which supports the concept of determinism.

Question 8

In attorney Clarence Darrow's defense of Leopold and Loeb, the two teenage murderers, he argued for&#10;A) determinism.&#10;B) libertarianism.&#10;C) compatibilism.&#10;D) functionalism.

Accepted Answer

In defending Leopold and Loeb, Clarence Darrow argued for determinism, suggesting that various factors beyond the control of his clients shaped their actions, thus challenging the notion of free will in their decision to commit murder.

Question 9

Teleological determinism differs from simple physical determinism, in that the former&#10;A) does not claim we are completely determined.&#10;B) thinks that a description of your bodily motions is sufficient to explain your actions.&#10;C) recognizes the role of intentions in explaining behavior.&#10;D) denies any similarity between the behavior of persons and machines.

Accepted Answer

Teleological determinism acknowledges the importance of intentions, goals, or purposes in explaining human actions, distinguishing it from simple physical determinism which might focus solely on physical causes and effects.

Question 10

John Stuart Mill claimed that the principle of universal causality was based on&#10;A) synthetic a priori reasoning.&#10;B) inductive reasoning.&#10;C) irrational habits and psychological quirks.&#10;D) faith.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill argued that the principle of universal causality (the idea that every event has a cause) was based on inductive reasoning, which involves making generalizations based on observations and experiences.

Question 11

Immanuel Kant claimed that the principle of universal causality was based on&#10;A) synthetic a priori reasoning.&#10;B) inductive reasoning.&#10;C) irrational habits and psychological quirks.&#10;D) faith.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Immanuel Kant claimed that the principle of...

Question 12

According to David Hume, the idea of causality is&#10;A) a logical truth.&#10;B) a synthetic a priori truth.&#10;C) an idea that arises from the constant conjunction of events.&#10;D) an idea that can be proven beyond all possible doubt.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to David Hume, the idea of...

Question 13

Set out the determinist's argument in a series of numbered steps.Next, discuss the sorts of reasons the determinist would provide for accepting each premise. Finally, discuss youropinion of the strengths and weaknesses of the argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Set out the determinist's argument in a...

Question 14

Discuss Clarence Darrow's defense of Leopold and Loeb. How does it illustrate the topic of this chapter? Pretend you are the prosecutor and try to undermine his argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss Clarence Darrow's defense of Leopold and...

Question 15

What are some reasons for believing in universal causality? What are its implications for human actions? Is it more rational to doubt universal causality or more rational to doubthuman freedom? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some reasons for believing in...

Deck 19: Determinism