Philosophy in Fall: What is Choice?

1. Philosophy in Fall:What is Choice? Feraco-Eberle SFHP 4 November 2008

2. Remind Me Again…What is Philosophy? • Phi-los-o-phy: • The rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. • Phi-los-o-pher: • A lover of wisdom; a seeker who questions (see “skeptic,” which we’ll cover later)

3. What’s “Philosophy in Fall”? • A mini-unit that bridges the gap between our studies of Siddhartha and Beowulf • A “question series” that will help focus our studies • A discussion-based forum for learning that invites you to go toe to toe with some of humanity’s greatest thinkers • A venue for expanding your conceptions of the world – as well as of who you are! • What’s your philosophy?

4. The Question Series • Tuesday: What is Choice? • Wednesday: What is Morality? • Thursday: What is Happiness? • Friday: What is the Soul? • Next Wednesday: What is Death? • Next Thursday: What is the Meaning of Life? • Next Friday: My Philosophy (Rough Draft)

5. Choice vs. Destiny Morality as a Function of Free Will Consequences of Fate Universal Causality Arguments Against Free Will The “God” Argument The “Logic” Argument The “Determinism” Argument Arguments For Free Will Determinists vs. Libertarians vs. Compatibilists vs. Agents What Are Your Views on Choice and Free Will? (If You Can Make Choices, What Factors Influence Them?) (How Do These Views Affect Everything Else?) What is Choice?

6. Choice vs. Destiny • A simple question: Do you think it’s important to have free will? Would you be OK without it? • There seems to be a simple either-or proposition when it comes to free will: Either we have it, or we don’t. • If we have control, can it be superseded by something else? • If we don’t have control, who does? • Can that control be trusted? • Does truth lie somewhere in between? • Can life still be meaningful without control?

7. Choice vs. Destiny in “The Matrix” • How much control does Neo have over what happens to him? • Is he a free agent, or a piece on a chessboard? • How many choices does Neo make? • How many people try to influence him? • Does Neo have a destiny? • Is it possible for Neo to fail if he has a destiny? • Does he still have to look both ways while crossing the street?

8. Morality as a Function of Free Will • Let’s assume for a minute that destiny exists – and that choice doesn’t • Do we still have morals? • What happens to responsibility? • Are we still “creative”? • Now let’s assume that destiny doesn’t exist, but that choice does • What happens to Siddhartha’s karma?

9. Siddhartha’s Existential Crisis • If choice doesn’t exist, can Siddhartha really “find his own way”? (And he thought teachers were the problem…) • Is he responsible at all for whether he breaks free of samsara? • If choice isn’t possible, doesn’t the samsara cycle seem that much crueler? • Is it even possible to live one’s life under the assumption that all appearance of choice is meaningless, and that nothing is in our own control? • Isn’t this the antithesis of Siddhartha’s entire world-view?

10. Consequences of Fate and Universal Causality • Universal causality states that every effect has a cause, which is in turn the effect of another cause • It makes one wonder what the original “cause” was! • This was Einstein’s world-view • The problem with causality is that it presupposes that choice is an illusion – that everything we do is simply the inevitable after-effect of some cause, seen or unseen, and that we’re essentially just vessels for cause/effect delivery • This is also known as “determinism.”

11. Arguments Against Free Will • Besides UC/Determinism, two other popular arguments against free will often surface • The “God” argument: God is omnipotent and omniscient (all-powerful and all-seeing), which makes God infallible; God knows the future as a result of the “omni” combination; therefore, God can’t possibly be wrong about the future – which means we can only do what God already sees, and can’t possibly do otherwise

12. Arguments Against Free Will • The second argument is the “Logic” argument • “Excluded Middle” law states that absolutes exist for every proposition: Either P or Not P is true, with no middle ground • “Noncontradiction” law states that P and Not P can’t be true at the same time • Let our proposition – P – be “Albert – you’re going to fail your midterm today.” • Either he will or he won’t; if he will, nothing that happens between now and then will stop him from doing so; if he won’t, the same holds true, right? • Now it looks like Albert has two “options” – he either will or won’t fail. However, since only one can be true, only one is really present – and he’s powerless to choose the other • In order to be free, you have to have choices – and Albert doesn’t really have them. (Scary!)

13. So Free Will Doesn’t Exist? • Not necessarily; there’s a reason this question has fascinated people for centuries. • For the “God” argument, we can say that the “omni” force can perfectly see the things it controls – and that, because it knows its creations so well, it can accurately predict any possible choice one could make in response to a given situation. However, it could still grant us free will – and therefore serves more as someone who’s really good at a strategy game (still sees the endgame, predicts the actions of the other player, and brings about the steps to make that endgame real – but doesn’t need to absolutely control the actions of the other player) • “We are responsible human beings, not blind automatons; persons, not puppets. By endowing us with freedom, God relinquished a measure of his own sovereignty and imposed certain limitations upon himself.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

14. So Free Will Doesn’t Exist? • As for the “logic” scenario, let’s say that Albert really, really doesn’t want to fail his midterm. • We’ll also say he’s “destined” to pass. (Whew.) • Does this really mean he has no choice? • After all, there are different ways to pass • He can study alone • He can study with friends • He can speak with his instructor (always a good idea) • He can cheat (tsk tsk) • In any case, Albert still has choices within his outcome! • You know you’re going to eat, but you don’t necessarily know what you’ll eat – and that decision could very well be yours after all!

15. So DOES or DOESN’T It? Tell Me! • No! • I cannot give you wisdom; I can only show you the path, try to keep you from hurting yourself when you fall, and congratulate you when you succeed with the tools you and I have collected • Besides, there are still options left to consider

16. What Options? • While there are other schools of thought in the “free-will” battle – especially theological ones – our four main players are the Determinists, Libertarians, Compatibilists, and “Agents” • Determinists: Your only free actions are ones you do without cause. But since we (the Ds) believe in UC, everything has a cause – so, in short, you can’t do anything freely. • Libertarians: Your only free actions are ones you do without cause – “uncaused” free actions. We’re obviously free, so why buy into any argument that tries to convince that what you know to be true isn’t – especially since UC isn’t really a scientific principle? • Compatibilists: Free acts can be taken as long as their cause lies in the inner state of the person – a desire, an intention, etc. Free will, in essence, lines up with UC nicely – because our inner choices/causes determine our will. • Agents: Free acts are caused by agents (people). UC exists, in that every event has a cause – but not every cause is an event itself. Some things have very short causal histories – not every event has a seemingly infinite number of causes linking to it.

17. Which One Are You? • Articulate your personal philosophy regarding choice and destiny. • Here are some questions to help you get started: • What is your “truth?” • What is your proof? • Which school’s arguments about choice dovetail most closely with your own, and how do they compare? • Which school do you absolutely disbelieve, and why? • Let’s discuss this topic, then write about it. • This is an ongoing assignment with an open timeframe; we’ll start one each day, and you’ll finish each on your own time (with the condition that you must work until the bell rings in class). • At the end of the unit, the body of these writings will allow you to form your personal statement of philosophy – the unit’s “end product.”