Soft Determinism:
- Compatibilists approach. Attractive as combines idea that humans are free but also subject to things that our out of our control.
- View that some aspects of human actions are determined but at the same time we are morally responsible for our actions.
- Rejects the assumption that determinism is inconsistent with free will.
- Argue that determinism does not rule out free will.
- They believe that determinism and free will are compatible.
- Would say some choices are causally undetermined whilst others are determined.
- Not free under some circumstances (AJ Ayer) : These could include e.g. Mental illness, the threat of violence, the influence of alcohol/drugs/stess. All of this could change our behaviour.
- Acknowledges that our upbringing and resulting psychology are also influences on our behaviour and decision making.
- When we say that a person acted freely we are not saying that there was no cause by rather that they were not forced to do it. Here thy act as free agents even though their actions are still caused.
AJ Ayer:
Says that “we are only not free under some circumstances”
David Hume - Leading scholar of soft determinism
- Defines freedom as the power to act in such a way as to produce the desired effect. He says that we are free as long as we are not constrained e.g. Held to gun point.
However, he also believes that our choices are also heavily influenced by our beliefs, desires + personalitys. - Hume believes that it is possible t change behaviour e.g. through counselling.
Soft determinism - distinction between internal + external causes:
Distinction between internal + external causes explains why freedom and moral responsibility are not only compatible with determinism but actually acquire it.
Soft determinism example: Holiday
- If you leave a country because you want a holiday, you leave on your own free will. But if you leave because authorise expel you, then you are obviously forced to leave. In each case your action is caused.
- When we say that a person acted freely we are not saying that there was no cause by rather that they were not forced to do it. Here thy act as free agents even though their actions are still caused.
Soft determinism example: Gandhi
‘Gandhi fasted because he wanted to free India’.
This would conform what the libertarian would call a free action, however at the same time is a cause not actually stated. ‘Gandhi’s desire to free India caused him to fast.’
Couldn’t we say that this desire was a result of other causes such as his education, upbringing, the teaching of the Hindu faith and so on?
- When we say that a person acted freely we are not saying that there was no cause by rather that they were not forced to do it. Here thy act as free agents even though their actions are still caused.
Modern thinkers such as Robert Kane and Peter Vardy have supported soft determinism…
They argue that freedom may never be achieved because of the complexity of genetic and environmental influences on us; however, this does not mean that freedom is not possible at all.
John Locke:
Says that “freedom is an active power to change circumstances”.
Limits of soft determinism:
- Sometimes we have no power to act because of another, prior cause. For example, a person falling off a collapsing bridge. Whilst this person would have the desire to act and save themselves, they are helps and, therefore, not free.
- Soft Determinism criticised by hard get for failing to realise the extent to which human freedom is limited, and criticised by libertarians for failing to recognise the true even of freedom.
- Whilst SD offers an agreeable account of moral freedom, a line still has to e drawn between that is determined and that which is open to choice.
- SD have to try to agree on what is and what is not a determining factor and the complexities of genetics, psychology and physicals makes such a line very difficult for them to draw.
Strengths to determinism:
- Moral responsibility is recognised in soft determinism.
- It is in accordance with what we know from behavioural science.
- Agreement with what we know from psychology. and also biology and genetics.
Limits of determinism in general:
- Too inflexible a system to be true and is not always in accordance with what we actually experience.
- Determinism cannot explain human nature and behaviour effectively enough.
- Determinism denies all moral responsibility and this would be devastating for society.
