Chapter 5 At The Bottom Of Page 256 Philosophy Now Activity ✓ Solved
Chapter 5 At The Bottom Of Page 256philosophy Now Activity Suppose A
Suppose all our decisions are made for us on an unconscious level so that we do not have conscious control of our actions. How would this fact change your thinking about your actions and about moral responsibility?
Respond to the Philosophy Now activity on p. 256 with a concise, 200-word response that explores how the idea of unconscious decision-making influences perceptions of moral responsibility and personal agency. Consider philosophical perspectives on free will, determinism, and moral accountability. Discuss whether, if our actions are driven unconsciously, individuals can be held morally responsible and how this impacts notions of ethics and personal responsibility. Use examples or thought experiments to support your analysis, and reference relevant philosophical theories where appropriate.
Paper For Above Instructions
The view that all our decisions are made unconsciously profoundly impacts traditional notions of moral responsibility. If our actions are driven by subconscious processes beyond our conscious control, the foundation of moral accountability becomes questionable. Philosophers like determinists argue that free will is an illusion, proposing that all actions are the result of prior causes, including genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors (Van Inwagen, 1983). Under this framework, holding individuals morally responsible for their actions may be unjustified because they lack genuine control, which is central to moral responsibility (Boonin, 2008).
This perspective aligns with neuroscientific findings suggesting that brain activity related to decision-making occurs before conscious awareness (Libet, 1985). If decisions are formed unconsciously, it suggests that our subjective sense of control is an epiphenomenon—an illusion that does not influence actual outcomes. From an ethical standpoint, this challenges traditional views of culpability, punishment, and praise, which rely on conscious intent (Hare, 1982).
However, compatibilists argue that free will can coexist with determinism, asserting that moral responsibility depends on voluntary and intended actions, even if unconscious processes initiate decisions (Frankfurt, 1969). They suggest that if individuals can reflect upon and endorse unconscious impulses, they can still be held morally accountable. Ultimately, recognizing unconscious decision-making urges a reevaluation of moral responsibility, emphasizing conditions that influence subconscious processes and promoting a more nuanced understanding of agency and ethics.
In conclusion, if our decisions are unconscious, the concept of moral responsibility must be reconsidered. It may diminish the blameworthiness traditionally assigned to individuals but also calls for a more compassionate and scientifically informed approach to ethics that considers the influence of unconscious processes on human behavior.
References
- Boonin, D. (2008). Moral Responsibility. Cambridge University Press.
- Frankfurt, H. (1969). Alternate possibilities and moral responsibility. Journal of Philosophy, 66(23), 829–839.
- Hare, R. M. (1982). Freedom and Reason. Oxford University Press.
- Libet, B. (1985). Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 8(4), 529–566.
- Van Inwagen, P. (1983). An Essay on Free Will. Clarendon Press.