Freedom and Determinism

1. Freedom and Determinism Introduction

2. First Vignette Dr. No has captured James Bond and placed a brain control device on top of his head. The device is radio-controlled, so that Dr. No can direct Bond wherever he wants, using a standard Wii controller. When the device is turned on, Bond remains conscious, but loses all control of his body. Dr. No then picks up his controller and directs Bond to pick up a nearby harpoon gun. He presses the “fire” button on his controller and Bond launches the harpoon at one of No’s henchmen.

3. Second Vignette Dr. No’s brain control device has been knocked off of Bond’s head by his beautiful accomplice. But, as Bond fights the henchmen, Dr. No sneaks up behind him and puts a gun to his head. “I’ve got you now, Mr. Bond!” cackles Dr. No. He leads Bond and his accomplice to the edge of his shark infested pool: “Now push her in… or I shoot!” Bond, seeing no way out, obeys.

4. Third Vignette Jim Blond was raised in an anti-henchmen society. Growing up, Jim’s father would always say things like, “The only good henchman is a dead henchman.” In fact, every morning his father would look him straight in the eyes and say “If you get into a fight with a henchman someday and you don’t kill him, you’re no son of mine.” One day, having grown up and gone to college, Blond gets into a fight with someone at the bar. It turns out that the other guy is a henchman. When Jim learns this, the words of his father echo in his mind. In a daze, Blond follows the henchman into the parking lot, picks up a harpoon gun, and fires it at him.

5. Fourth Vignette Blond is busy with school and work is hard to come by. The bills are starting to stack up. In fact, Blond is about to lose his house, his car, and his medical coverage. His children go to bed hungry every day. It’s really sad. One day, Blond is approached by a friend with a little “job” offer. Kill Mr. Mo’s cat and he will be handsomely rewarded. Seeing no other way out of his situation, Blond poisons Ms. Kitty.

6. Freedom • The Control Principle: An action is free only if it’s up to the agent. • The Freedom Principle: Some actions are free.

7. Determinism • Determinism: Everything that happens is causally determined by the past, together with the laws of nature. • The Universality of Causation: Everything that happens has a cause (which precedes it in time). • The Sufficiency of Causation: A cause is sufficient for its effect.

8. Summary • The Freedom Principle: Some actions are free. • Determinism: Everything that happens is causally determined by the past, together with the laws of nature. • A complete description of the world at one time, together with a complete description of the laws of nature, entails a complete description of the world at any later time.

9. The Incompatibility Argument • Determinism is true. • If (1), then the Freedom Principle is false. • [So] The Freedom Principle is false.