The Consequences of Determinism

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  • Created by: Marrino13
  • Created on: 25-03-15 11:11
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  • The consequences of determinism
    • If all actions are pre-determined, then moral responsibility is eradicated
      • So human decisions are entirely predictable based on genes, environment and gender.
        • Therefore humans are incapable of rational decision making
          • The concept that humans are free to choose is an illusion.
            • As a result, moral responsibility becomes illusory
      • Therefore humans are incapable of rational decision making
        • The concept that humans are free to choose is an illusion.
          • As a result, moral responsibility becomes illusory
    • Necessary truths
      • These truths are analytically true, and there is no possibility that the validity of this statement will alter in the future.
        • A necessary truth MUST be true. The statement will contain a logical necessity
          • E.g. All widows are women
            • Necessary truths
              • These truths are analytically true, and there is no possibility that the validity of this statement will alter in the future.
                • A necessary truth MUST be true. The statement will contain a logical necessity
                  • E.g. All widows are women
      • Contingent truths
        • These truths may be true OR false. The truth depends upon the circumstance
          • A truth that has been true in the past or is true in the present, but there is no guarantee that it will be true in the future.
            • E.g. All women are widows
              • Contingent truths
                • These truths may be true OR false. The truth depends upon the circumstance
                  • A truth that has been true in the past or is true in the present, but there is no guarantee that it will be true in the future.
                    • E.g. All women are widows
                      • This may have been the case in a town where all husbands died at war, or it may be true in a widows gathering club.
                        • BUT this is not a statement which we can guarantee will be true forever.
                • This may have been the case in a town where all husbands died at war, or it may be true in a widows gathering club.
                  • BUT this is not a statement which we can guarantee will be true forever.
          • Importance of necessary and contingent
            • Determinists treat the factors which curtail free will as necessary truths.
              • E.g. Rose West's abuse as a child meant that her personality was destined to be an abuser.
                • The problem is that statements regarding the influence of a person's background upon their behaviour are contingent
                  • Importance of necessary and contingent
                    • Determinists treat the factors which curtail free will as necessary truths.
                      • E.g. Rose West's abuse as a child meant that her personality was destined to be an abuser.
                        • The problem is that statements regarding the influence of a person's background upon their behaviour are contingent
                          • This may be the case for one incident in life, but this is not always the case.
                            • The person's background MAY NOT affect their behaviour in a particular way
                              • E.g. Rose West's siblings/ children didn't let their background affect their behaviour.
                  • This may be the case for one incident in life, but this is not always the case.
                    • The person's background MAY NOT affect their behaviour in a particular way
                      • E.g. Rose West's siblings/ children didn't let their background affect their behaviour.
          • Chaos Theory
            • Hard determinists rely on the word being ENTIRELY predictable
              • However, recent development in quantum physics suggests a possible randomness in the universe
                • At best, we can only discuss the probability of an event
            • This theory proposes that there Is an apparent random nature to the universe within a determinist system
              • Not due to a lack in laws, but to un-measurable variations in the initial conditions.
                • This affects the outcome of an event.
              • Explains Leopold and Loeb as an anomaly in the mechanistic world of determinism

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