A. J. Ayer’s analysis of free will is as follows (611):
P1 If you would have chosen to act in a way other than you did, you would have
P2 You acted voluntarily
P3 You were not compelled to act in a certain way
C1 Your action was the result of free will
Ayer’s first premise for an act of free will states that if you would have decided to make a different choice, you would have made a different choice. This condition for free will addresses the determinism theory (everything that happens can be predicted if you know every nuance of the laws that govern the universe). Ayer believes in both free will and determinism, and this part of his definition of free will eliminates the apparent conflict between the two theories. Just because all of your …show more content…
Ayer uses the example of a kleptomaniacs need to steal (609). If a kleptomaniac goes into a store and decides to steal something, they will steal something. If they go into the store and decide not to steal anything, they will still steal something. In this aspect of the kleptomaniacs life they can not control their actions. Whether or not they want to steal they steal. The kleptomaniac still has free will in other parts off their life, but they have a compulsion to steal. A voluntary action is an action where if you would have chosen to take a different action, you would …show more content…
While drunk or otherwise intoxicated one could argue that ones actions are not voluntary. When someone decides to drive drunk and kills someone we hold them morally responsible, even though their action was not voluntary. Ayer contends that one should not be held morally responsible for actions they could not avoid because they were not exercising free will (606). When a drunk driver kills someone involuntarily they are held morally responsible and are punished for it. Therefore, drunk drivers are exercising free will because they are held morally responsible, even though the action was not
P1 If you would have chosen to act in a way other than you did, you would have
P2 You acted voluntarily
P3 You were not compelled to act in a certain way
C1 Your action was the result of free will
Ayer’s first premise for an act of free will states that if you would have decided to make a different choice, you would have made a different choice. This condition for free will addresses the determinism theory (everything that happens can be predicted if you know every nuance of the laws that govern the universe). Ayer believes in both free will and determinism, and this part of his definition of free will eliminates the apparent conflict between the two theories. Just because all of your …show more content…
Ayer uses the example of a kleptomaniacs need to steal (609). If a kleptomaniac goes into a store and decides to steal something, they will steal something. If they go into the store and decide not to steal anything, they will still steal something. In this aspect of the kleptomaniacs life they can not control their actions. Whether or not they want to steal they steal. The kleptomaniac still has free will in other parts off their life, but they have a compulsion to steal. A voluntary action is an action where if you would have chosen to take a different action, you would …show more content…
While drunk or otherwise intoxicated one could argue that ones actions are not voluntary. When someone decides to drive drunk and kills someone we hold them morally responsible, even though their action was not voluntary. Ayer contends that one should not be held morally responsible for actions they could not avoid because they were not exercising free will (606). When a drunk driver kills someone involuntarily they are held morally responsible and are punished for it. Therefore, drunk drivers are exercising free will because they are held morally responsible, even though the action was not