HumanFlesh comments on Separate morality from free will - Less Wrong

6 Post author: PhilGoetz 10 April 2011 02:35AM

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Comment author: HumanFlesh 10 April 2011 10:25:44AM *  1 point [-]

If punishing tornados changed their behaviour, then we would try to punish tornados. An event appears to be intentional (chosen) when it's controlled by contingencies of reward and punishment.

There are exceptions to this characterisation of will. When there is a power imbalance between those delegating rewards and punishments and those being influenced by rewards and punishments, the decision is sometimes seen as less than free, and deemed exploitation. Parents and governments are generally given more leeway with regards to power imbalances.

When particular rewards have negative social consequences, they're sometimes called addictive. When particular punishments have negative social consequences, their use is sometimes called coercive and/or unjust.