Writing Assignment 3: Free Will and Determinism

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Make sure you work through the materials for both Week 7, 8 and 9 before you respond to this assignment. In Week 7, we learned about hard determinism and how it puts into question free will and responsibility. In Week 8, we learned about the position of compatibilism, which tries to combine determinism and freedom. In Week 9, we learned about libertarianism and existentialism.

Now, to test our intuitions about the plausibility of compatibilism, let's consider the case of Xander.

We know this about Xander: Their physician has warned that they are overweight and need to reduce their calorie intake. However, one day, on the way home from work, Xander passes a bakery and purchases a pound of fudge candy, which they immediately consume.

What caused Xander to take this action? We can imagine that the following circumstances and psychological factors played major roles in Xander's decision.

1. Xander tends to lack self-discipline.
2. Xander tends to choose immediate gratification over long-term goals.
3. Xander is not concerned about their weight or physical appearance.
4. Because Xander feels good about themselves, they are not too concerned about the physician's warning.
5. Xander craved fudge candy.
6. Xander received in the past month three rejections from publishers for the novel they are seeking to publish.
7. The disappointment causes Xander to feel sorry for themselves.
8. When Xander eats fudge they feel happy.
9. Xander was too busy to stop for lunch and is very hungry.
10. The fudge candy is prominently displayed in the store window.

Now, given these factors, how would you answer the following questions:

• Was it inevitable (i.e., necessary) that Xander would buy and eat the fudge? YES or NO
• Was Xander acting freely when they ate the fudge? YES or NO
• Can Xander be held responsible for making what seems to be a bad choice, that is, for not taking care of himself?YES or NO

Title your blog response with your YES or NO answers and a brief statement of your position. For example:

• YES/NO/NO: Xander could not have done otherwise
• YES/NO/NO: Punishment is unjust
• NO/YES/YES: Humans have free will

Then explain your answer, paying special attention to how your three answers are consistent with one another.

Remember also to make use of the class readings and lectures on freedom:

• Identify your answer as subscribing toa hard determinist position(no free will and no responsibility) ora traditional compatibilist position(actions are causally determined by character, psychology, environment (etc.) but actions are voluntary and agents are responsible as long as there is noexternalcoercion or hindrance)or hierarchical compatibilism.How do you defend your position?
• How does Smith compare withFrankfurt's addicts (see lecture). Is Smith like Frankfurt's unwilling, wanton, or happy addict? Explain your ans