In thinking about the topics we covered this semester as a whole, I was trying to determine how free will and morality influence each other. If determinism is true (all of our decisions are decided for us), does morality even exist? I find it hard to see how it would. How can you say someone is being immoral or moral if they have no control over their actions? If indeterminism is true (all of our decisions are due to chance), I also don’t see a very strong case for morality. Thus I think the idea of self-forming actions provides the best case for the existence of morality. Perhaps with each decision you make you are creating your own set of morals which will influence the choices you make in the future.
I was thinking a similar idea during class. The morality portion kind of goes along with the responsibility discussion during class. If you were determined to do something, are you responsible for it? (Are you being immoral since you were destined to do that?). Or with indeterminism, if everything is by chance, are you morally right?
These questions may never be answered by science, but doesn’t sit right with most people, because we would like to make others accountable for their actions.
I think you bring up a really interesting point. If determinism were true, morality would seem almost pointless. Why would the morals of our actions matter if they were predetermined anyway? Because of this, I am inclined to lean towards indeterminism and self-forming actions. Both of these theories allow for free action, which is essential for accountability. This would allow for people to be help responsible for their decisions and morality.