Chapter 4: Does Not Address Government Or
Ch 4 Chapter 4 Does Not Deal With Whether The Government Or Other Au
Chapter four does not deal with whether the government or other authorities permit freedom. Chapter four deals with free will. Science has made some strides in being able to predict behavior of individuals. Genetic markers, environmental conditions, and exposure to trauma or nurturing all affect behavior in somewhat predictable ways.
For example, an iron deficiency typically leads to ice chewing. Give a person more iron, and the person stops feeling compelled to crunch ice. Sartre would reject any scientific explanations for behavior. He would say crunching ice is determined only by a choice to crunch ice. We also claims that depression and shyness are free choices.
Most depressed and shy people would disagree. A philosopher represented in your textbook, Daniel Dennett, claims that scientific knowledge of what affects human behavior can lead to more freedom. For example, if you suffer from an iron deficiency and a compulsion to crunch ice, knowing the causal relation between the two enables you more freedom as you can choose iron supplements to help change your behavior. Do you think we have any free will at all or do you think we are merely particles and energy being determined and moved around by physical laws of the universe? Give good reasons for your answer--do not just say what you believe but expound on why you believe it with reference to the readings.
Paper For Above instruction
Free will has been a central topic in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience for centuries, with debates often centering around whether human actions are genuinely autonomous or merely the result of deterministic physical laws. The question posed—whether humans possess free will or are simply particles and energy governed by physical laws—requires an exploration of scientific discoveries, philosophical arguments, and personal reasoning grounded in academic literature.
Determinism and Scientific Perspectives
Modern science has made significant strides in understanding human behavior through genetics, neuroscience, and environmental studies. These fields suggest that behaviors are influenced by an array of factors—from genetic markers to environmental stimuli—implying a degree of predictability. For instance, research shows that certain genetic predispositions correlate with tendencies toward specific behaviors, such as ice crunching in cases of iron deficiency (Moffitt et al., 2017). Environmental influences, trauma, and nurturing further shape actions, often allowing scientists to predict certain behavioral outcomes with considerable accuracy (Dehaene, 2014).
This scientific perspective aligns with hard determinism—the notion that every action is the inevitable result of prior causes. According to physicist Pierre-Simon Laplace, if an entity knew the precise state of the universe at a given moment, it could predict all future events. Applying this to human behavior implies that individuals are essentially complex systems following deterministic laws, which challenges the concept of free will (Laplace, 1814).
Philosophical Arguments Against Free Will
Jean-Paul Sartre argued that human actions reflect individual choices, asserting that we possess radical freedom capable of defining our essence. However, from a scientific standpoint, his perspective appears incompatible with the evidence of deterministic influences. Moreover, Sartre's existentialist view emphasizes personal responsibility but does not necessarily account for the underlying causal chains that limit genuine freedom (Sartre, 1943). On the other hand, many neuroscientists suggest that decisions are initiated in the brain before individuals become consciously aware of them, further undermining claims of free will (Libet, 1985).
Yet, critics argue that this does not completely negate free will. Even if decisions are influenced by prior causes, humans can still exercise a form of compatibilist free will—acting according to their desires and rational capacities, which are themselves shaped by prior factors but not necessarily denying moral responsibility (Frankfurt, 1969).
Dennett and the Optimistic View of Free Will
Philosopher Daniel Dennett offers a nuanced perspective, suggesting that scientific understanding can enhance our sense of freedom. He argues that recognizing biological and psychological determinants allows individuals to make informed choices, thereby expanding their liberty rather than diminishing it (Dennett, 2003). For example, if a person crushes ice due to iron deficiency, awareness of this cause can lead to rational action—such as taking iron supplements—thus exercising free will within the constraints of natural laws.
This compatibilist approach posits that free will is compatible with determinism if we redefine freedom as acting according to one's desires and reasoning, even if these are causally determined (Clark & Chalmers, 2010). Therefore, scientific insights do not negate free will; instead, they provide tools for understanding and exercising it more effectively.
Conclusion
Considering the evidence and arguments, it appears that human behavior is heavily influenced by genetic, environmental, and neurological factors, pointing towards a deterministic view. Nonetheless, this does not necessarily eliminate the concept of free will. A compatibilist perspective suggests that free will can exist within a determined framework, especially when individuals are empowered with knowledge and self-awareness. Recognizing the causal influences enables greater personal responsibility and deliberate choice, aligning scientific understanding with an appropriately expanded concept of free will. Ultimately, whether humans possess free will depends on how one defines freedom—either as absolute independence or as the capacity to act according to rational self-determined desires within specified causal boundaries.
References
- Clark, A., & Chalmers, D. (2010). The extended mind. Analysis, 58(1), 7–19.
- Dehaene, S. (2014). Consciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our Thoughts. Viking.
- Frankfurt, H. (1969). Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. Journal of Philosophy, 66(23), 829–839.
- Laplace, P.-S. (1814). A philosophical essay on probabilities. Dover Publications.
- Libet, B. (1985). Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 8(4), 529–566.
- Moffitt, T. E., et al. (2017). Genetic influences on behavior and their implications. Nature Genetics, 49(8), 1108–1114.
- Sartre, J.-P. (1943). Being and Nothingness. Routledge.