Assignment #15: Determinism and Responsibility
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Prompt:
This discussion question is meant to help you reflect on your moral/ethical intuitions.
Read about the case of Ethan Couch. He is a teen who was convicted of drunk driving and manslaughter (killing four people), yet received a light sentence of probation and time in a treatment facility. The defense argued that Couch shouldnt be held as responsible because his parents were so permissive that Couch did not experience socially appropriate consequences for his socially inappropriate behavior. This case has been commonly referred to as the affluenza case that because of his familys wealthy lifestyle and permissive childrearing, Couch was unable to understand the consequences of his actions.
Group Discussion Question: The affluenza defense suggests that Couch couldnt have acted responsibly because of his upbringing and lack of knowledge- in other words, he was determined by circumstances beyond his control. Construct an argument based on the lecture for how one could respond to this use of determinism as defense.
- Should Ethan Couch have been held more responsible? Why?
- What would a soft determinist say?
- Could he have done otherwise and what evidence could you point to that he should have had knowledge of the right thing to do regardless of upbringing?
Now, using Humes emotivist stance, explain what your immediate affective response is to this issue.
- Does it provide guidance as Hume suggests?
- Is there an immediate feeling that you have when you are introduced to this scenario?
- Does this feeling hold sway in your judgement of whether it is just or ethical to allow this kind of defense?
Finally, thinking more generally about how our lives and experiences (so, no longer just thinking about the Couch case) are determined by things beyond our control, think about if there are some kinds of causal determinates that do matter in judging our actions? What would they be? Think about this in terms of what we have just said about knowledge and exposure to information?
RUBRIC:
Length: Discussion posts must be a minimum of 200 words and shouldaddress the question or topic completely. Posts outside of thisparameter will receive fewer points.
Depth of Thought: Discussion posts should demonstrate insight intothe topic, critical thinking, original ideas and supporting details andexamples when appropriate. Student shows ability to consider anddiscuss the topic from several perspectives and does not simply recyclepreconceived ideas or beliefs.
Supporting Evidence: Discussion topics require reference to theconcepts discussed in the lecture regarding the issue of determinismand free will, and relate them to situation presented in the assignedarticle. Evidence of engagement and adequate comprehension of howthe issue of determinism is a problem for assigning responsibility isexpected.
Presentation/ Clarity: Thoughts and opinions are expressed in anorganized manner. Discussion posts should reflect college-level writingskills, appropriate sentence structure, format, and grammar. Do not useabbreviations or acronyms used in texting. All postings mustdemonstrate appropriate language and respect for others. Inappropriatelanguage or disrespectful postings are not acceptable.
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