Key concepts
Determinism (P1) – For those who claim to comprehend the idea of determinism, it is the idea that human attitudes are as a result of past events or happenings and thus freedom and responsibility are not factual ideas but rather aspects of personal beliefs. Philosophers who imply they comprehend the ideology of determinism do so from two divergent perspectives: optimistic and pessimistic. Optimists hold that the relevance of orals, human attitudes, responsibility and practices and concepts is independent of whether determinism is true or false. On the other hand, Pessimists are of the opinion that determines erases the relevance of freedom, morals and moral conscious in personal practices and attitudes by provident that past occurrences cause current events.
Genuine moral skeptic - The philosophy of moral guilt, blame, and moral responsibility is naturally confused. The philosophy is justified through the analysis of determinism as true and as false. Morality and moral responsibility are inapplicable regardless of whether determinism is true or false. Strawson admits to lack knowledge on the thesis of determinism. However, Strawson sympathizes with his counterpart and attempts to reconcile the optimists and pessimists viewpoints
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Reconciliation – The attempt to reconcile optimists and pessimists ideologies on the thesis of determinism in pursuit of the withdrawal of one tea or an arriving at a concession. Reconciliation brings about the inadequacy of the perspectives and provides better phrasing of the thesis for each point of view that is more agreeable. Strawson admits to lack knowledge on the hypothesis of determinism. However, Strawson sympathizes with his counterpart and attempts to reconcile the optimists and pessimists viewpoints. Optimists point to efficiency in punishment and moral condemnation to regulate behavior as long as socially acceptable means are employed. The idea contradicts the concept of freedom in that punishment and the push to conformance becomes a limitation of liberty.
Freedom - The absence of conditions which if present render oral condemnation and punishment inappropriate. The nonexistence of conditions such as coercion, insanity, mild psychological disorders and inherent incapacity among others makes punishment or moral condemnation wrong (Strawson).
2. The basic question or issue
Determinism provides that human actions are predefined by past events discrediting moral obligation and responsibility which is the basis of pessimist view. However, optimist urge that the position of determinism whether true or false has no implications on morality. Pessimists approach to determinism and freedom present them as similar while optimists treat them as independent factors. To understand the optimist view and the pessimist view it is necessary to explore both under the notion that determinism is right and on the other hand under falsity of determinism.
Therefore, Strawson seeks to explore the objectivity of human interpersonal attributes, moral principles, and obligation in determining their actions and the role such attributes plays in the making of a person. Strawson seeks to establish the consistency between determinism and freedom. Through shifting attention to gratitude and resentment as personal rather than moral attitudes about truth or falsity of determinism, Strawson arrives at the optimist conclusion that determinism whether true or false does not affect orals and moral obligation siding with the optimist view.
Authors main claims
The inadequacy of the thesis of determinism-The thesis developed by the optimist and pessimist school of thoughts presents bare facts to primary of the issue. The concept of determinism cannot ignore moral responsibility and attitudes.
Appropriateness of the punishment and moral condemnation- Punishments and moral condemnation are considered control mechanism for personal behavior and are valid outside the boundaries of freedom. The existence of punishment and need for approval limits freedom.
The significance of personal attitudes and intentions towards relationships- People attach importance to views, and their plans and the opinions depend on personal beliefs about the intentions of action people take. There are three types of mentality which include reactive attitude, personal attitudes, and self-reactive attitudes. Actions from personal attitudes lead to responsive positions as responses in the form of anger, resentment or forgiveness or gratitude which are reactive attitudes. Therefore, beliefs and intentions are the personal basis of relationships.
The consistency of determinism and freedom-Determinism and freedom are inconsistent. It is wrong to define freedom, and moral responsibility cannot are immeasurable on the efficiency of the practices which reveal our moral attitudes.
The relevance of determinism to practices and moral responsibilities.
Resentment is a result of reactive attitudes.
Outline of the text
Thesis of determinism
Optimists argument- Whether determinism is true or false is irrelevant to moral responsibility and moral attitudes. Attitudes and practices are dependent on personal opinions which are different in individuals hence the measure of efficiency is wrong.
Pessimist thesis-With the existence of the concept of determinism then moral responsibility and attitudes do not exist.
The genuine moral concept- The compatible idea that moral responsibility freedom and attitudes are viable in either case of determinism: true or false
Reconciliation
Determinism as wrong- does not affect beliefs, morals and moral responsibility
Determinism as true-reinforces the role of moral attitudes and obligations but still determinism is not worth considering.
Withdrawal or concession- the two schools of thought pessimist and optimist need to come to a concession as in skeptical concept, or one has to withdraw as the two theories cannot both be correct.
Analysis of the consistency of freedom, determinism, and personal attitudes
Punishment, moral condemnation, and approval- The existence of moral beliefs, punishment and moral conviction are barriers to independence. Freedom means there are no set standards to abide by and hence the fact that something is considered morally wrong means freedom is limited.
Attitudes and intentions –Practices and attitudes allow or suggest detachment from actions. The detachment is followed by either resentment or forgiveness. In the same way, optimists and pessimist need to approach the detachment in correlating the philosophies to provide a reconciled view with adequate basis.
Resentment-resentment develops as an attitude towards limitation of freedom.
Conclusion-Personal and societal practices are expressions of their moral attitudes and as such cannot be treated as devices for regulative purposes. Optimist philosophy is true under modification to provide facts for its basis and consolidate the ideas to offer them the factual adequacy to hold; the pessimist philosophy assumes attitudes which are the basis of humanity and hence the concept is unrealistic. Human commitment to their views and beliefs is innate and cannot be dismissed hence any philosophy that attempts to dismiss it becomes false.
Further questions
Strawson suggests that the optimist point of view when modified to allow for its inadequate is the right thesis to determinism. That is optimists provide more facts which are necessary for any philosophy. Is there another perspective besides optimist and pessimist philosophies that presents a more reliable thesis to determinism? If there is what is it and what are the facts to its statement?
To what extent does Straw son’s analysis offer a thesis for determinism and define the consistency between significant variables such as attitude, responsibilities, and freedom?
Strawson provides a recommendation that the optimism perspective if modified sufficiently presents the case for determinism and moral attributes. To what extent is the proposal more dependable than either of the two schools of thought? What modifications are necessary?
References
Strawson, P. F. Freedom and resentment . Retrieved on 4 April 2018 from http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uctytho/dfwstrawson1.htm.
