Understanding Freedom, Determinism, and Moral Action
What is Freedom?
Freedom, in its external sense, refers to the outward appearance of the target action or behavior. However, in its internal, subjective sense, freedom refers to deliberation and decision. We must distinguish between two senses of freedom: freedom in the negative sense, equivalent to the absence of constraints, and freedom in the positive sense, which equates to power.
A person is free in the external negative sense if there are no restrictions in the external environment preventing them from carrying out something. In a positive sense, a person is free if they have options in the external environment that entitle them to carry out certain things. Internally, a person is free if they have positive internal options that empower them psychically to choose, deliberate, and decide. In a negative internal sense, a person is free if there are no restrictions preventing them from psychic deliberation and decision-making.
Freedom, in any of the above senses, is a matter of relative degrees. The concept of freedom is closely related to action; it is a necessary condition.
Approaching the Problem of Freedom
The problem of freedom is how to reconcile freedom with determinism. Determinism is the theory that all events in the universe have a cause. Unlike events that are not actions, actions are more complex and, consequently, harder to explain and predict. On the other hand, everyone has the subjective experience of being a free agent, that is, someone who deliberates, decides, chooses, and acts freely.
The problem of freedom can be stated as follows: If determinism is true, the experience of belief in freedom and responsibility is illusory, and if it is not illusory, determinism is false. Freedom seems to conflict internally with determinism. In order to save free will, some authors deny that all events in the universe are caused; this is known as indeterminism. However, to save free will, it is not enough to deny determinism; we must also explain freedom.
Solutions to the Problem of Free Will
Let’s start with weak determinism, the view that considers there is no contradiction between freedom and determinism. According to this view, freedom does not mean the absence of causality but rather the absence of coercion. An action is free if it has not been forced or restricted, either externally or internally.
Strong determinism is the theory that believes every event in the universe is caused, including actions, so freedom is impossible. Libertarianism is the theory that asserts the existence of human free will.
Moral Action
Moral action is based on moral grounds, just like any other action. The reasons for moral actions are moral reasons, and the underlying beliefs are moral beliefs. Reasons for actions relate to values, while beliefs have to do with principles.
What are Values and Norms?
- Values are positive properties of objects, people, and relationships that promote attraction.
- Norms are instructions on how we should act in certain situations to achieve certain ends or values.
Morals and Morality
A person’s moral code is the set of values, principles, and moral standards, including duties or moral obligations. A moral person is someone who possesses a set of moral ideas. A person’s morals are equivalent to their moral code. However, a person’s morality encompasses all the decisions they make and the moral deeds they perform, that is, the behavior that was allegedly based on their moral code.
What is Ethics?
Ethics is the philosophical investigation of morals and morality. An individual’s morals are reflected in their morality. However, our morality is always a reflection of the morals we actually hold, not what we claim to hold.