Deck 49: William James: The Dilemma of Determinism

Question 1

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-According to James, the question of whether indeterminism is true is

A) readily answered.
B) insoluble.
C) meaningless.
D) unfortunate.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-According to James, if determinism is true, feelings of regret are

A) absurd.
B) rational.
C) expected.
D) good.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-According to James, in a deterministic world, murder and treachery would cease to be

A) events.
B) determined.
C) sins.
D) virtuous.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James asserts that to determine the truth about determinism and indeterminism, people rely almost entirely on the empirical facts.

Question 5

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James thinks that it is better-emotionally and morally-to believe in a deterministic world than one of chance.

Question 6

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James believes that indeterminism, or chance, allows for the possibility of free will.

Question 7

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James declares that free actions are chance happenings.

Question 8

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James believes that free choices are determined by previous events.

Question 9

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James says that sometimes hard determinism allows for free actions.

Question 10

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James thinks that evidence to decide between determinism and indeterminism is impossible to find.

Question 11

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James says that no sane person can tolerate the notion of chance in the world.

Question 12

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James believes that chance happenings are random happenings and therefore cannot yield free actions.

Question 13

In this selection Hume argues that a person does not have a self. He says that learning comes from sensory impressions and that there does not seem to be a separate impression of the self that we experience. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that we have a self. The most with which we can identify ourselves is our consciousness, and that constantly changes. There is no separate, permanent self that endures over time; personal identity is a fiction.
-James says that determinism denies the possibility of future volitions.