Determinizm a odpowiedzialność

• Authors: Joanna Smakulska

Title variants

EN

Determinism and responsibility

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The aim of the article is to discuss the possibility of keeping the notion of responsibility valid, despite the inborn determinism of a human being. In the context of responsibility, the incompatibility of free will and determinism, is one of the most complex and difficult philosophical issues. B. Wolniewicz and S. Pinker are both the supporters of genetic determinism, however they do not negate responsibility. They claim that the idea of justice, or natural law, is deeply rooted in human nature. The main reason why people demand punishment for criminals is due to the fact that criminals contravene the moral order. Progress which is taking place in biological sciences might be perceived as a threat to the idea of justice, because some discoveries in this field may be used by lawyers for justifying criminal deeds by evolutionary reasons and eventually proving their innocence. In fact, there is no such a danger, as explaining someone’s conduct is not the same as justifying it. Understanding does not mean forgiving. Biological sciences might be helpful in more profound understanding of the problem.

Keywords

EN

DETERMINISM; FREE WILL, JUSTICE; RESPONSIBILITY; BOGUSŁAW WOLNIEWICZ; STEVEN PINKER; STOICS

• Publisher: Bialystok University Press
• Journal: Archeus. Studia z bioetyki i antropologii filozoficznej
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 14
• Pages: 109-125

Contributors

author

Joanna Smakulska

• dr Joanna Smakulska, Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Katedra Bioetyki i Antropologii Filozoficznej, Pl. Uniwersytecki 1, 15–240 Białystok, POLAND