tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695280310697378421.post8330503358210723651..comments2024-03-25T02:15:02.505-07:00Comments on Nancy's Blog: Criminals and the Brainadminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11442349453021015062noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695280310697378421.post-62574488179078077052011-08-29T18:20:20.652-07:002011-08-29T18:20:20.652-07:00The will is free precisely because the intellect i...The will is free precisely because the intellect is not perfect. Keep in mind that around 80% of life must be carried out automatically; not just things like breathing, but even activities carried out by habit, training and conditioning. <br /><br />The will is an appetite for products of the intellect, just as the emotions are appetites for the products of sensation. That is why we "hunger" for justice. When the object of the intellect is perfectly known, say that 2+2=4, the will it completely determined toward it. But when it is not perfectly known - what exactly is "justice"? - then the will is not perfectly determined to any one thing. This is all that the traditional metaphysicians meant by liberum arbitrium, which better translates as "free judgment," not "free will." <br /><br />Nor were Aristotle or Aquinas ignorant that the will might be impaired by habit (which for them included what we call genetic predisposition), circumstance, or chemical substances (like being drunk). Whence the doctrine that culpability is moderated by impairments to the will. <br /><br />Glad science is catching up.TheOFloinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14756711106266484327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695280310697378421.post-79163063428883061662011-08-29T16:38:05.079-07:002011-08-29T16:38:05.079-07:00To an extent, we have that now. The key word is &q...To an extent, we have that now. The key word is "danger". This is not something that is decided democratically.qiihoskehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06729684109780848463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695280310697378421.post-38355888280006707472011-08-29T16:37:54.914-07:002011-08-29T16:37:54.914-07:00It's kind of like we're in one fo those B-...It's kind of like we're in one fo those B-movies traps where the walls are closing in. The space lef for free will in human actions continouns to be smaller and smaller. I persoanlly think wer exercise free will when we resist our natural inclincation. (I may want to flirt with the attarctive woman at a worldcon party, but as a married man I resist and exercise my will) However that just pushes the horizon back for we know there are people with impulse control issues. Do they have less free will?Robert Mitchell Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16326954919497900642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695280310697378421.post-32690595793297811322011-08-29T15:12:34.703-07:002011-08-29T15:12:34.703-07:00I agree -- which is why the article is so disturbi...I agree -- which is why the article is so disturbing.Nancy Kresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834410304227906387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1695280310697378421.post-42240524727890926692011-08-29T13:59:50.404-07:002011-08-29T13:59:50.404-07:00The final state for this sort of idea is the elmin...The final state for this sort of idea is the elmination of criminal justice system and its replacment by a mental health/medical care system. It becomes very sticky because once you eliminate free will and therefore responsility, illegality becomes a mental health issue and taht in a democratic political situaiton is a very dangerous position any sort of minority.Robert Mitchell Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16326954919497900642noreply@blogger.com