Determinism, Freedom, and Ethics: Spinozistic Interventions in the Contemporary Discussions of Responsibility Open Access
Kluz, Christopher Ryszard (2010)
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or compatibilism stemming from the outdated philosophical models of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
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 Mind2.4 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 Actions3.3 "Human Bondage" or When Humans Are Not Free
3.4 Freedom, Virtue, and Blessedness 3.5 An Ethics Without Free WillChapter 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 Law4.7 Justification for Criminal Punishment
Conclusion 157 Bibliography 160About this Dissertation
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