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Teleological Ethics and Free Will (Component 3)
Quick questions on Determinism - Eduqas A-Level Religious Studies Component 3
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the implications for moral responsibility?Show answer
The decisive issue is moral responsibility. If determinism is true and no one could have done otherwise, then holding people responsible, and the practices of praise, blame, guilt and retributive punishment that depend on desert, look unjust. Strengths of determinism: it fits the scientific picture of universal causation and the evidence that genetics and upbringing shape behaviour; it can make us less judgemental. Weaknesses: it conflicts with our strong intuition that we deliberate and could act otherwise; it seems to undermine the whole moral practice of responsibility; and (critics say) it is self-defeating if even our belief in determinism is merely caused.
What is q1?Show answer
Explain Skinner's behaviourist account of human action. [part (a), AO1, 20 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
"Scientific determinism leaves no room for free will." Evaluate this view. [part (b), AO2, 30 marks]
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