Determinism, Freedom, and Ethics: Spinozistic Interventions in the Contemporary Discussions of Responsibility Open Access

Abstract

Abstract
Determinism, Freedom, and Ethics:
Spinozistic Interventions in the Contemporary Discussions of Responsibility
My dissertation uses Spinoza's philosophy as a rejoinder to the ongoing debate
concerning free will that has undergone a remarkable resurgence in contemporary
philosophy due to recent developments and research in cognitive and brain sciences.
The primary concern in this debate is that if there is no free will then there can be no
moral responsibility. And if there is no moral responsibility, then much of the
foundations of traditional moral and legal practices are undermined. Concomitant with
this debate is a growing demand in the natural, biological, and social sciences for a new
concept of responsibility, especially for legal theory, that is not based on free will.
However, most of the contemporary positions on responsibility, forms of libertarianism
or compatibilism stemming from the outdated philosophical models of Kant and Hume,
cannot satisfy this demand. By looking at the contemporary philosophical debate on free
will, my dissertation shows the deficiency of currently discussed positions on moral and
legal responsibility. It then presents Spinoza's philosophy as one that, while adamantly
denying free will, still provides an ethical and political theory which opens a new
approach for both moral and legal responsibility based on the necessity of social life.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: The Problem with the Compatibility Problem 18
1.1 Do We Need Free Will to be Morally Responsible?
1.2 Different Positions on the Compatibility Problem
1.3 Compatibilism
1.4 Incompatibilism
1.5 Beyond a Philosophical Quandary

Chapter 2: Spinoza the Incompatibilist or Spinoza's Critique of Free Will 49
2.1 An Ethics Naturalized
2.2 The Illusion of Free Will
2.3 The Human Mind
2.4 The Human Will and Determinism
2.5 Concluding Remark: Free Will Versus Freedom

Chapter 3: Spinoza the Compatibilist or Spinoza's Theory of Freedom 80
3.1 Moral Responsibility, Take One
3.2 Affects, Passion and Actions
3.3 "Human Bondage" or When Humans Are Not Free
3.4 Freedom, Virtue, and Blessedness
3.5 An Ethics Without Free Will

Chapter 4: Spinoza On Moral And Legal Responsibility 117
4.1 Reward and Punishment
4.2 Moral Responsibility, Take Two
4.3 The Formation of Society and Responsible Individuals
4.4 Justifying Practices of Praising and Blaming
4.5 The Formation of the Political State
4.6 Determinism and Law
4.7 Justification for Criminal Punishment

Conclusion 157

Bibliography 160

Contents Introduction 1

Chapter 1: The Problem with the Compatibility Problem 18

1.1 Do We Need Free Will to be Morally Responsible?

1.2 Different Positions on the Compatibility Problem

1.3 Compatibilism

1.4 Incompatibilism

1.5 Beyond a Philosophical Quandary

Chapter 2: Spinoza the Incompatibilist or Spinoza's Critique of Free Will 49

2.1 An Ethics Naturalized

2.2 The Illusion of Free Will

2.3 The Human Mind

2.4 The Human Will and Determinism

2.5 Concluding Remark: Free Will Versus Freedom

Chapter 3: Spinoza the Compatibilist or Spinoza's Theory of Freedom 80

3.1 Moral Responsibility, Take One 3.2 Affects, Passion and Actions

3.3 "Human Bondage" or When Humans Are Not Free

3.4 Freedom, Virtue, and Blessedness 3.5 An Ethics Without Free Will

Chapter 4: Spinoza On Moral And Legal Responsibility 117

4.1 Reward and Punishment

4.2 Moral Responsibility, Take Two

4.3 The Formation of Society and Responsible Individuals

4.4 Justifying Practices of Praising and Blaming

4.5 The Formation of the Political State

4.6 Determinism and Law

4.7 Justification for Criminal Punishment

Conclusion 157 Bibliography 160

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Philosophy
Degree	PhD
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Philosophy
Keyword	Determinism Free Will Ethics Spinoza Moral Responsibility Early Modern Philosophy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Goldenbaum, Ursula, Emory University
Committee Members	Patterson, Richard, Emory University McCauley, Robert, Emory University

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