PHIL 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Daniel Dennett, Dream Argument, Cartesian Doubt
10 Apr 2019
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Password phil201 for peerceptiv 2 feb. 11:30: pick a topic for the paper!! Strategy: argue that moral concepts apply whatever the universe is like; if moral concepts typically apply to human action, human action must be free. Because we are psychologically incapable for not making use of them! In short: moral concepts are required by our psychology and social life; for moral concepts to apply, it must be true that we are free; so we are free. Once we abandon metaphysics, there is nothing left for the optimist and pessimist to debate. Finally it makes no sense to ask whether should just give up the practice of reactive attitudes and the freedom they presuppose. Can"t say all of human action isn"t free because that is to give up how we think about ourselves and other people! Nothing to do with determinism: optimist and pessimist are reconciled in the fact that they are misunderstanding the question!
