I think this answers 90% of the questions that come up in here lol. Morality is no different in a deterministic universe as it is in a “free will” universe.
In my observation, libertarians seem to end up arguing for compatibilism.
Instead of the how question, let me ask a simpler question: how would libertarianism actually help us make better choices than a typical compatibilist account?
I mean suppose there is a non-physical soul (you can use your own details of libertarianism) instead of the physicalist assumption of a complex computing system, how would that soul help us make a better or more rational decision?
As science (esp. neuroscience) advances, it shows more details of how everything in the mind is physically caused.
What is the relationship between what various sciences are discovering every day and the indeterministic agential mechanism required for libertarianism? I'm wondering if the main argument of libertarianism is in fact just substance dualism - the claim that what acts in humans is not physical.
Let's assume that compatibilists rely on the conditional analysis of abilities (i.e. ignore those compatibilists who use categorical analysis).
Take the common person's understanding: I CAN go outside tonight or stay home. I CANNOT fly to the Sun.
This I believe is the conditional analysis applied correctly, in line with compatibilism.
What would you tell this person - where are they wrong? Instead of the abilities they understand they have (expressed by the CAN and CANNOT statements above) what CAN they actually do?
It is perplexing to hear this as an argument (in justifying the difference between accountability and moral responsibility).
Is it possible/desirable to do morality without emotions? Are you saying you do morality without emotion? Don't people in morality and politics express strong emotions and take action on them?
Any system has to work with emotion, it can't just assert it is unnecessary.
That there is no scientific evidence? But on these grounds, consciousness does not exist, moral nihilism follows and no one can claim belief in democracy or human rights.
Can you give an account by which consciousness or morality are real but moral responsibility is not?
This is a reference to posts like this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/freewill/comments/1tir1ou/the_truth_of_hard_determinism_dissolves_only_a/
>The truth of hard determinism dissolves only a certain kind of “moral responsibilty”.
>You know that right wing “tough-on-crime” mentality that sent masked goon squads into American cities to arrest a 45 year old guy who had been working at Home Depot for ten years? That’s what it destroys.
>The sense of moral responsibility that does survives determinism is thoughtful, humble, compassionate, and practical. Its more concerned with the way things work than with emotions like anger and hatred.
What's the connection between determinism and specific kinds of responsibility? Any arguments?
This conversation runs many times.
Free Willer:
>Capitalism reduces poverty and is based or free will.
Free Will Denier:
>Capitalism is enslavement.
1 To free willers: those free willers who are not pro-capitalism, do you think capitalism is not based on free will, but socialism or social democracy is?
2 To free will deniers: to those deniers who are pro-capitalism, how do you square this one?
Free will is metaphysical: the control required for moral responsibility. It is not political in itself, but it is the basis of political liberty.
https://www.reddit.com/r/freewill/comments/1t0wxur/free_will_is_an_instrument_of_power_for_the/
OP while complaining free will is a tool of the ruling class has this line: "pull yourself up by your bootstraps"
Do free will deniers believe we cannot 'pull yourself by your bootstraps' metaphsyically, but we can 'pull yourself by your bootstraps' politically? But surely our metaphysical beliefs have a connection to our politics?
Alternatively, if you believe political liberty is also problematic, do you think the people who can fix the problems (government/others) do have free will or more of it?