Freedom and

Accountability

Lessons-Understanding Human Freedom

Nature of Accountability
Possibility of Human Freedom
DETERMINISM- is the view that all
events that happen in the world are
caused by previous events or
conditions along with the laws of
nature. It follows that if we know the
relevant conditions of an event to
occur and the natural laws governing
its occurrence, we will be able to
predict the occurrence of this event.
 Possibility of Human Freedom
DETERMINISM- it follows that given these
conditions and the natural laws governing
its occurrence, only this event will occur- it
could not be another event. If X, Y, Z are
the conditions and laws necessary for
event W to occur, and we happen to know
X, Y, Z, then we will be able to predict the
occurrence of W- for only W will follow
from those causes (ex. throwing up a rock)
 Philosophical Positions
1. Hard determinism
2. Libertarianism
3. Compatibilism/
Soft determinism
 Hard Determinism
Accepts determinism, and further
believes that determinism and
freedom are incompatible- that they
cannot both be true. What is hard
about hard determinism is its
conclusion that there is no free will and
no moral responsibility.
 Hard Determinism
The incompatibility between
determinism and freedom is explained by
the view called Principle of Alternate
Possibilities for freedom, which states that
actions done freely or choices made freely
could have been otherwise. (ex. If I freely
chose to stay home, I could have gone
somewhere else.) If our choices to stay
home is determined, then they cannot be
otherwise.
 Hard Determinism
The idea is that there are alternative
possibilities to the free choices that we
make or actions that we do. But this is not
the case if our actions or choices are
determined. If an event is caused by
previous events following some natural
laws, there is only one possibility that will
occur (ex throwing up a rock). If my choice
to stay home is determine, then I could not
have gone somewhere else.
 Libertarianism
Rejects determinism. It
accepts that while certain
events in the world are caused
and thus are determined, there
are also some events that are
not- referring precisely to
human choices.
 Libertarianism
It accepts the premise of
hard determinism that
determinism and freedom
are incompatible but rejects
its premise that determinism
is correct.
 Libertarianism
It is only the self or the mind of the
human person that produces these free
choices through the power of its will.
Freedom is sometimes referred to as self-
determinism. Free choices, are in a way
also determined but not by things or
conditions outside of the self (which
include previous events, natural laws and
ones biological make-up), but by the self
through the power of its will alone
 Compatibilism
Rejects the premise that determinism
and freedom are incompatible.
Even if determinism is correct and thus
all human actions are caused by previous
events or conditions along with natural
laws, but because the human person is not
forced, compelled or constrained to do
actions to satisfy his/her own intentions.
 Compatibilism
It does not matter for
compatibilism that our choices and
actions are determined; what is
important is that when a human
person makes these choices and does
this choices that he/she is not forced,
compelled or constrained to do so.
 Kinds of Freedom
1. Natural freedom- human freedom is the absence
of determinism in human choices and actions
2 Kinds of Human Actions
a. Voluntary kind- referring to actions that are not
determined or actions done to carry out free choices
b. Involuntary kind- referring to actions that are
determined or actions done not to carry out free
choices
2. Social freedom- human freedom is the absence of
force, constraints or anything that makes a person act
against his/her will or desire
 Nature of Accountability
Accountability refer to deservingness of blame or praise
(punishment or reward) for the actions that we do
Types of Accountability
1. Legal accountability- results from the application of legal
standards. A person is given punishment or penalties by
the state for performing illegal action; while he/she is
given certain benefits and services by the state such as
police protection and free education for not doing an
illegal action
2. Moral accountability- results from the application of moral
standards in assessing the rightness and wrongness of our
actions. A person is thought to deserve moral blame for
performing an immoral act; while performing moral praise
for performing a moral act
Types of Moral Accountability
1. Responsibility as a Duty
2. Responsibility as Accountability
3. Responsibility as Agency
 Types of Moral Accountability
1. Responsibility as a Duty- refers to the
sense of responsibility in which being
responsible means holding certain duties
or obligations (ex. Parents are responsible
for their children). It is in this light that we
describe someone as a responsible person
when he/she is mindful of his/her duties
toward other persons, while as an
irresponsible one when otherwise.
 Types of Moral Accountability
2. Responsibility as Accountability-
performing and failing to perform ones
duties are actions for which one can
deserve blame or praise; that is, we
can deserve blame for failing to
perform our duties toward other
persons, while praise for being able to
perform them
 Types of Moral Accountability
1. Responsibility as Agency- refers to the sense
of responsibility in which being
responsible means being the cause of
something or being the one that brings
about something.
Moral Agents- are entities who hold
certain moral duties
Moral Recipients- are targets of moral
duties and thus are entities who hold
moral rights
 Conditions for Accountability
1. Intentionality- the action is done
intentionally, that is, he or she has the
intention of doing the action to carry
out the intention
2. Knowledge- the person knows or is
capable of knowing that the action he
or she is thinking of performing is right
or wrong, good or bad
 Conditions for Accountability
Incriminating Conditions- the presence of knowledge and
intentionality
Excusing Conditions- the absence of knowledge and
intentionality
Irresponsible Ignorance- is the kind of ignorance where
we can say to an ignorant person that he/she should have
known better
Real Ignorance- is the kind of ignorance where we
cannot say to an ignorant person that he/she should have
known better
Mitigating Conditions- factors that decrease the degree of
accountability
Aggravating Conditions- factors that increase the degree of
accountability
 Conditions for Accountability
Bases for the degrees of accountability
1. Degree of difficulty or pressure
2. Intensity of the injury
3. Degree of ones involvement
4. Degree of ones knowledge of the
wrongfulness of an action and relevant
facts