Question 1

According to James, what are the unpleasant implications of determinism? Do you agree that the implications are as menacing as James thinks they are? Explain.

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Question 2

How does Stace use his examination of common language usage to argue for compatibilism? What is Stace's view of punishment? Do you agree with him? Explain.

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Question 3

Consider the theory about free will known as libertarianism. It is based on the premises that determinism is false and that determinism and free will are incompatible. Do you accept these premises? Why or why not?

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Question 4

Imagine someone who always acts according to his or her desires-but the desires have been secretly created by a mad scientist using advanced technology. Can he or she really be said to act freely? Would Locke say that he or she acts freely? Explain.

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Question 5

Do you agree with James that the question of free will versus determinism is unprovable and largely a matter of sentiment based on personality type? In that case, are we determined to choose one view or the other?

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Question 6

D'Holbach points out that without the doctrine of free will, the notion of just punishment crumbles: that religion could not justify God's sending people to hell for their sins, and the Law could not justify its system of punishments without the doctrine. Do you agree with d'Holbach?

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Question 7

What is d'Holbach's argument that we do not have free will? Do you think the argument is sound? Explain. Why does d'Holbach maintain that choice does not prove the free agency of man?

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Question 8

Critics of compatibilist freedom say that merely being able to act according to your desires without constraints is not real freedom if your desires are determined for you in the first place. Do you agree with this criticism? Explain.

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Question 9

In your own words, explain the idea of agent causation. How is this supposed to help solve the problem of free will? Do you think agent causation is plausible? Why or why not?

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Question 10

If scientists proved once and for all that determinism is true, how do you think most people would react? Do you think most people would continue to hold each other responsible? What does that show, if anything, about our intuitive ideas about freedom?

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Quiz 5: Free Will and Determinism