Stace (1886-1967) Attempts to Reconcile Free Will with Causal Determinism

question 13

True/False

Stace (1886-1967) attempts to reconcile free will with causal determinism. He takes the position that William James labeled "soft determinism" (compatibilism). We must have free will to be held morally responsible, and yet it seems plausible that all our actions are caused. How can these two apparently inconsistent ideas be brought together? Stace argues that the problem is merely a verbal dispute and that, rightly understood, there is no inconsistency in holding to both doctrines. Free actions are those we do voluntarily, whereas unfree actions are those we do involuntarily.
-Stace argues that free actions are those we do voluntarily, and unfree actions are those we do involuntarily.

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Definitions:

Conditioned Response

A response that is acquired due to the association of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned reaction.

Behavioral Contrast

A phenomenon where the rate of response to a stimulus changes when the conditions of reinforcement for another stimulus are altered.

Eyeblink Conditioning

When a conditioned stimulus (CS) becomes able to elicit a conditioned eyeblink as a result of being paired with a puff of air or a brief electrical shock below the eye.

Extinction Procedure

A process in conditioning where a conditioned response decreases in frequency and eventually disappears when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.