Exploring Determinism, Free Will, and Moral Action

Posted on Dec 16, 2024 in Philosophy and ethics

Determinism and Physical Determinism

Determinism within “physical determinism”: This thesis consists of 2 types of determinism:

  1. Material: The universe is composed of physical atoms, endowed with permanent mass, only differing in position and relationship (Newton).
  2. Mechanical: The physical state of the universe at a particular time is determined by the state of the universe at any other time. Therefore, one could predict that state. For example, astronomy provides examples: knowing the position of the sun and planets at a given time allows us to indicate their position at any other time using Newton’s laws. A proponent of this determinism was Laplace. If physical determinism is true, freedom would be an illusion, because even acts of love would be physical processes and fully determined.

Evidence in Favor of Free Will

  1. The immediate testimony of consciousness: We know by intuition, directly and immediately, our own freedom. Freedom appears to our consciousness as an undeniable fact (Descartes and Ortega).
  2. Universal consent: The argument is as follows: “All men are created free.” Something that all men agree on is true. Therefore, it is true that men are free. In fact, men are created free because otherwise, rewards, punishments, and promises would be meaningless.
  3. Moral proof: This argument is found in ancient philosophy, but Immanuel Kant gave it more importance. It is an obvious fact that we are moral beings, manifested by our sense of moral obligations and remorse. These moral phenomena indicate that a necessary condition of moral fact is freedom. Therefore, since moral facts exist in man, man must be free.

Limits of Free Will

Freedom is finite and limited. We are free to take certain actions but not others. Types of limits of freedom:

  1. The facticity of freedom: Freedom is factual, not chosen but imposed, since we do not choose to be free.
  2. This forced freedom is finite because it is influenced by the values found in reality that attract and seduce our control.
  3. The set of actions we can take is limited to what is logically possible. It is impossible to take any action that goes against the laws of logic. It is also impossible to take any action that goes against the principles of metaphysics.

ITEM 8

Ethics and Morality

Morality is the set of rules and customs accepted as appropriate or correct in a given place. Ethics is a critical view of morality, rules, and the consequences of human action. The aim of ethical reflection is to determine, according to certain values, principles, and general rules, if an action can be considered moral.

Similarities:

  • Both have a close relationship with customs and social norms.
  • Both relate to the field of human action.

Differences:

  • Morality originates from customs, practices, and values inherited and acquired in our social life. Ethics analyzes and evaluates different sets of rules to determine their moral character.
  • Morality is closely related to praxis (action). Ethics is more distant in its relationship with facts, focusing on reflection about morality.

When is an Action Moral?

Some behaviors are civic or legal. To distinguish moral actions, consider these two basic features:

  • They are social actions that arise in our relationships with others. If we lived alone on a desert island, morality would not make much sense.
  • They are guided by a set of rules, generally known as moral standards.

Moral rules must possess these two characteristics:

  • Involve critical reflection upon the scope and consequences of the action. Before acting, you should know if the behavior will lead to the desired outcome and what the consequences will be.
  • Have a desire for universality. Any person, under the same circumstances, should act according to the moral law.

According to the motives that drive human beings to act, two ethical theories are developed:

  • Ethics of ends: The action must produce some end. Rules should seek to resolve conflicts between competing interests. Both the standard and a moral action should try to achieve happiness and justice.
  • Ethics of duty: This does not share the vision of man as a seeker of happiness. What defines a human being and its legislative differences is its autonomy, the ability to give oneself rules of rational action.

Freedom

Being conditioned is different from being determined. Being conditioned means not having absolute freedom, but it remains in contrast to being directly determined, which is not free. There are two forms of freedom:

  • Negative: Absence of coercion (external or internal).
  • Positive: The ability to choose (external, internal).

Types of freedom:

  • Physical Freedom: The ability to move.
  • Civil Liberty: The ability to exercise civil rights in a state.
  • Political freedom: The ability to participate in political life.
  • Freedom of thought: The ability to express one’s thoughts.
  • Freedom of religion: The ability to choose one’s religion and to perform acts of worship without obstacles.

Determinism

Determinism is the theory that denies the reality of freedom. It argues that the will to decide is not free but is necessarily determined in one direction. It is determined by one’s background, by a powerful force, and by what happens necessarily. The material world is determined.

Determinism within Physical Determinism

This thesis consists of 2 types of determinism:

  1. Material: The universe is composed of physical atoms, endowed with permanent mass, only differing in position and relationship.
  2. Mechanical: (The text ends abruptly here)