I don't believe we need free will, what we really seem to need is a way to justify restraint or consequence for individuals when their actions or risk are a danger to the rest of us. — MacGuffin
even though the idea of free will allows us to dictate morality or blame, I think that treating our actions by the effects they have, as well as treating individuals by the risks they pose to the rest of us, still allows for the same level of legal accountability, just without labeling individuals as having 'good' or 'evil' intentions/actions. — MacGuffin
why do we need free will — mujo1127
Without the restraints that the notion of individual guilt establishes, it's easy to see everyone as a cog in the machine of society. And what happens to broken cogs? — Echarmion
Is that vat piping-hot yet? :yikes: — THX1138
I believe I see your point, could it be that a punishment as a deterrent to others resulting from one's actions (even if we don't believe the individual will repeat those actions and aren't a major threat) would also serve as a risk mitigation for the future actions of others? what I'm really trying to imply is a utilitarian approach to a legal response, but there are likely problems with that I haven't thought of — MacGuffin
The problem with basing your system of legal accountability purely on it's effect on other poeple is that it ends up treating the actual criminals merely as examples - means to an end. — Echarmion
could you elaborate on this? I would think we are treating their actions as examples, and their punishment as the deterrent, but I'm not sure I quite understand what you meant — MacGuffin
dude. we all belong in the vat (maybe we are? lol)
but seriously you seem to have a healthy respect for your own feelings and when acting on your own urges would cross the legal boundary, so as long as you aren't beating yourself up over being human which is self destructive, or doing harm to others, I'd say you are just fine. — MacGuffin
The idea is qualified. There is no way to see it otherwise. — thewonder
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