Question 1

According to the philosophical tradition Churchland opposes, no choice is free unless it is uncaused.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

What is the difference between a hard determinist and a soft determinist? Consider an objection to one of these views and explain why it is forceful.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a hard...

Question 3

According to Stace, unfree acts are

Accepted Answer

A)  Impossible. 
B)  Caused by desires or motives. 
C)  Caused by physical forces or conditions. 
D)  Caused by circumstances internal to the agent.

Question 4

According to Nagel, all modern scientists accept that the physical universe operates according to completely deterministic principles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Accord to Levy, Frankfurt-style cases can be understood as a variation of an example from John Locke.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

According to Stace, philosophers who deny the existence of free will

Accepted Answer

A)  Act as if they are not responsible. 
B)  Act randomly. 
C)  Accept its existence in practice. 
D)  Do not exist.

Question 7

According to Churchland, choices are made by the brain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

According to determinism, all human action can be predicted in advance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Do you think that you could have eaten something different for breakfast than you did eat? Explain what this means to you and why you do or do not think it is true.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you think that you could have...

Question 10

The libertarian denies that

Accepted Answer

A)  We have free will. 
B)  All actions have explanations. 
C)  All actions are deterministically caused. 
D)  We act at all.

Question 11

How would Churchland's neurobiological approach to free will evaluate the cases of Andrea Yates and the middle-aged Virginian described at the beginning of the reading? Would Churchland think either of these individuals acted freely? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would Churchland's neurobiological approach to free...

Question 12

Churchland claims that the traditional understanding of free will must be modified. What is Churchland's argument for this claim? Is the argument convincing? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Churchland claims that the traditional understanding of...

Question 13

Why does determinism imply pessimism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does determinism imply pessimism?...

Question 14

Levy intends the case of Jillian to be a counterexample to the principle of alternative possibilities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Free action, according to Stace, is caused by psychological states in the agent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

According to Hume, the dispute concerning liberty and necessity is

Accepted Answer

A)  Unresolvable. 
B)  Merely verbal. 
C)  Not a real dispute at all. 
D)  Both b and c

Question 17

Do you think we have free will? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you think we have free will?...

Question 18

There are no borderline cases on Stace's definition of "free will."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Critics of libertarianism

Accepted Answer

A)  Claim it leads to a dilemma such that we can never act responsibly. 
B)  Claim that it accepts hereditary and environmental causes of every human action. 
C)  Reject its denial of moral responsibility. 
D)  Point out its ambiguous definition of "freedom."

Question 20

Do you agree with Stace that his definition of "free will" matches our ordinary use of the term? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you agree with Stace that his...

Exam 5: Free Will

According to the philosophical tradition Churchland opposes, no choice is free unless it is uncaused.

What is the difference between a hard determinist and a soft determinist? Consider an objection to one of these views and explain why it is forceful.

According to Stace, unfree acts are

According to Nagel, all modern scientists accept that the physical universe operates according to completely deterministic principles.

Accord to Levy, Frankfurt-style cases can be understood as a variation of an example from John Locke.

According to Stace, philosophers who deny the existence of free will

According to Churchland, choices are made by the brain.

According to determinism, all human action can be predicted in advance.

Do you think that you could have eaten something different for breakfast than you did eat? Explain what this means to you and why you do or do not think it is true.

The libertarian denies that

How would Churchland's neurobiological approach to free will evaluate the cases of Andrea Yates and the middle-aged Virginian described at the beginning of the reading? Would Churchland think either of these individuals acted freely? Why or why not?

Churchland claims that the traditional understanding of free will must be modified. What is Churchland's argument for this claim? Is the argument convincing? Why or why not?

Why does determinism imply pessimism?

Levy intends the case of Jillian to be a counterexample to the principle of alternative possibilities.

Free action, according to Stace, is caused by psychological states in the agent.

According to Hume, the dispute concerning liberty and necessity is

Do you think we have free will? Explain.

There are no borderline cases on Stace's definition of "free will."

Critics of libertarianism

Do you agree with Stace that his definition of "free will" matches our ordinary use of the term? Explain.