Myths of freewill

Emotions are more difficult to evaluate and change, but even they are modifiable as a result of reasoning and experience. They are not just blind forces, but are interconnected in very complex ways with concepts and experience over time.

Reasoning itself, particularly as exemplified in elementary logic, is often deterministic, and there is no difficulty whatever in giving a deterministic account of any process that exemplifies it. In practice, however, reasoning is usually probabilistic in ways for which we have no very satisfactory models. In many matters we are guessing. That does not mean probabilistic reasoning is irrational.

Advances in mathematics may eventually clarify much that is now obscure. Valid reasoning does not depend on formal calculation or even on consciousness. Our brains process enormous amounts of information, which we use very effectively without being aware of it. What matters is that those processes function consistently to contribute to reliable and acceptable cognition.

There are many difficult problems about morality, including the morality of punishment, but we do construct and enforce rules as an indispensable framework of social intercourse of every sort. Rules are only occasionally prohibitions. Most of them give interpersonal significance to our actions. They enable us to do things that we come to value greatly, but could never do on our own. Rules are always open to debate, and in a healthy society will be critically discussed. Most of us obey the rules because they are an integral part of our relationships, our self-conceptions and self-appraisals.

Sometimes we have other motivations that incite us to act contrary to some rule. Often this does not matter from a social point of view. It may upset people’s expectations, but in most cases, the offenders and the offended can be left to debate the matter among themselves. But we have to draw limits to the ways in which people may exploit or defy the rules to the serious detriment of others. If some do not accept those limits it is necessary to bring in additional considerations that may influence their behaviour, such as the threat of punishment.

People are never wholly responsible for accepting the reasons for which they act, but they are usually capable of questioning them, and sometimes need incentives to do so.