What curtails our freedom? – genetics To know how genetics can be an influence on action.

LESSON OBJECTIVES TO EXPLAIN THE RELEVENCE OF GENETICS TO THE FREE WILL DEBATE. 

STARTER Homework “FREEWILL IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR US TO PUNISH PEOPLE. “ DISCUSS. YOU SHOULD GIVE REASONS FOR AND AGAINST THE STARTMENT. USE THE ESSAY TEMPLATE FOR YOUR ANSWER.

STARTER HOW IMPORTANT IS FREE WILL TO US? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WHAT IS MORAL RESPONSIBILITY? WHY IS FREE WILL REQUIRED FOR IT? WHAT DOES “OUGHT IMPLIES CAN MEAN?”

What is the theory of genetics? Living beings pass on and inherit traits from their parents. Traits are passed on through genes which make up the DNA of an individual. Genes are directly responsible for the way in which a person looks, their sex, hair colour, race and many other factors. As the science of genetics has developed specific genes are being identified as factors in other human functions.

GENETICS and ENVIRONMENT Scientists are starting to unravel how much impact genetic combinations might have on our PREDISPOSITIONS to act in a certain way. Some hold that we may be far more programmed than we originally thought. Both in terms of our genetic heritage and also in our social upbringing.

What genes are there? Gay gene Gambling gene Obesity gene

WHAT AFFECTS US? NATURE GENETICS NURTURE PARENTAL UPBRINGING PEER GROUP SOCIAL CLASS EDUCATION

WHAT AFFECTS US? The influence of genetics and environmental factors are unknown. There may always be random elements or variables that whilst it may be more likely that person x does y it is not NECESSARY. I may have a disposition to behave in a certain way but I have enough willpower to restrain my action before I act.

What curtails our freedom? – will power To know how we limit our own freedom.

LESSON OBJECTIVES TO EXPLAIN HOW WE CAN CURTAIL OUR FREEDOM THROUGH SELF RESTRAINT AND THE SOCIAL CONTRACT.

SELF RESTRAINT AND WILLPOWER Human beings as well as being influenced by their genes are influenced by mental factors. We experience emotions and desires and these in turn are responsible for some of our actions. Romantic emotions make you act to create a relationship. Sexual desire makes you want to have sex. Desires for food make people seek food when required. We are animals that are motivated to move/act by our desires and emotions.

SELF RESTRAINT AND WILLPOWER Five minutes. List as many desires and emotions as you can and connect them to the ways in which we could act. Can you stop your desire? What is it that stops that desire? FREE WILL?

DESIRES AND ACTIONS

SELF RESTRAINT AND WILLPOWER Desires and actions can be stopped by willpower and self restraint. Some people are able to control their urges and limit their freedom. Not all people are able to resist temptations Self restraint may have a genetic disposition but it may be due to ethical or religious beliefs The beliefs of the person may be strong enough to limit their own freedom.

SELF RESTRAINT AND WILLPOWER We generally want to act to stop desires. We feel that the ability to stop our desires is what separates ourselves from animals. How else do we stop our freedoms?

LIVING IN SOCIETY Society has a set of rules that are followed. This is called a social contract. Limitations on freedoms are put in place to maximise the freedom of all people. Order justice and civilisation come about by people agreeing to some basic rules of conduct. What would society be like if there was no rules? Do you have a choice over these rules?

LIVING IN SOCIETY What would society be like if there was no rules? Do you have a choice over these rules? Nazis in 1930 organised a set of rules which marginalised a section of society. Their social contract severely limited the freedom of a group of individuals.

CONFLICT OF FREE WILLS If we all are free to act then eventually some freedoms will conflict. Crossing in the road and supermarket example. Individual freedom requires us to think about how conflict is handled. Freedoms are curtailed out of social convention. These are not to be underestimated as they may be strong enough to motivate a gay man to marry a woman for the sake of his family.

SUMMARY Moral responsibility may be mitigated by the degree to which we were free when we acted Arguably environmental influences play a strong role in determining behaviour – perhaps we are not as free as we think!