Freedom and Determinism: The Problem

1. Determinism is true.
2.If determinism is true, then all actions are determined.
3.If an action is determined, then it is not freely performed.
4.If determinism is true, then no act is freely performed by anyone. (2, 3)
5.No act is freely performed by anyone. (1,4)
6.For all P and A, if act A was not freely performed by person P, then P is not responsible (blamable, accountable, or even praiseworthy) for doing A.
7.No one is responsible for any of her or his actions. (5,6)


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Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 4 October 2004