Free Will and Responsibility (Caruso and Gazzaniga)

Free Will and Responsibility (Caruso and Gazzaniga)
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Free Will and Responsibility (Caruso and Gazzaniga)
Free will is one of the most prominent concepts that help explain human culpability in various situations. The two words, free will and responsibility, often go together. To many individuals, a constructive link exists between free will and moral responsibility. Others believe that the concepts of free will are directly linked to the moral responsibility of what we do in daily situations. For decades, theologians and philosophers have nearly universally held that civilization, as people understand it, is based on a widespread belief in free will. Thus, losing such belief could, in turn, be dreadful. In terms of Christian tradition, this right is called moral liberty meaning the ability to discern and pursue the good rather than only being obliged by desires and appetites. The assumption of free will runs over all aspects of American politics, from criminal law to welfare provision. As a result, debates relating to free will have substantially surged in recent times. Gazzaniga (2014) "How Free is Your Will?" and Caruso (2014) "The dark side of free will" play a significant role in gaining insights into the relationship between these two concepts and the point of view of each one of them. This excerpt reflects on the arguments for and against free will, how belief in free will can alter how society responds to unlawful behaviors, free will's impact on how children receive education in school systems, and possible trends in society if nobody has free will. 
Compatibility holds that determinism and free will coexist. Compatibilists assert that even if prior causes can identify people's actions, they can act freely and be accountable for their actions if they are outcomes of deliberation and are responsive to causes that reflect their desires and values (Ociti, 2023). On the other side, determinism and free will are the viewpoints that all events, such as human actions, causally results from earlier influences and coexist, as compatibilist argue. Even if people's behavior is impacted by several variables, such as environment, heredity, and prior experiences, individuals can still make decisions depending on their needs and motivations. Compatibilism purport that as long as the people's decisions are not forceful or from outside manipulation, free will is a situation where a person is not prevented from doing what they want (Gliatto, 2020). The determinism standpoint is applicable in making the case against free will. Determinists assert that free will is a myth since all acts, even those of human beings, are causally determined by prior actions and may be understood from molecule movements (Cave, 2016). Free will also make individuals less creative, reluctant to learn from their mistakes, and more likely to conform (Cave, 2016). Several causative variables, like genetic and environmental effects, eventually govern people's actions and decisions. 
Moreover, believing in free will can substantially affect how society responds to unlawful behavior. Notably, putting attention on an individual's responsibility and accountability, free will belief impacts the reactions of society to illegal actions. When Gazzaniga talked about responsibility, he made a great point. He talked about where we get our responsibility. We get our "sense" of responsibility from a combination of things; our mind, environment, experiences, etc. "Responsibility remains true, and we are to be accountable for our actions" (Gazzaniga, 2014, 08:00 - 08:09). Relating to free will and society's response, I believe humans do not have free will. Children and university students are taught in a system of pre-set rules, meaning their learning curriculum is already set. Individuals are more prone to be held morally accountable for their acts if they are perceived to have free choice. Therefore, the focus on punishment and retaliation as a reaction to an offense and accountability, the idea of free will, can impact how society responds to wrongdoing activities. Individuals are more susceptible to being held accountable for their actions as long as they are perceived to be able to make their own decisions. Hence, it is possible to emphasize punishment and retaliation as reactions to an offense. Belief in free will can strengthen the notion that individuals are likely to make decisions and should be held accountable for their choices, leading to a more punitive approach in the criminal justice system. 
           Like free will impacts how society addresses unlawful behaviors, it will likely influence how people educate their kids in the current school system. Personal agency and choices can influence how people educate kids in the modern educational system. Teaching a child that they have the right to choose behaviors and being held accountable for these actions can contribute to focus on developing decision-making capacities, critical thinking, and ethical behaviors. This mechanism can help pupils become independent and self-reliant, preparing them to contribute to society. 
On one end, Professor Caruso asserts that he is a free-will skeptic who believes that the people we are a result of factors beyond our control (Caruso, 2014, 1:00 -1:20). According to him, he does not believe in the notion of free will. However, Caruso raises a question concerning the possible outcomes once we stop believing in free will or behave like a free will does not exist (Gazzaniga, 2014). Apart from impacting children's educational system, free will can cause a substantial effect on society. Various trends in the community would eventually change if people believed nobody had free will. Notably, legal regimes can turn from disciplinary and retaliatory processes to more rehabilitative measures if the idea of free will is suppressed. Rather than blam...