Lesson test: The manipulation argument

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The manipulation argument

1.[3p]
Put Pereboom's four cases in the order he presents them.

Plum's character was fixed by rigorous training in his community
Plum is an ordinary agent in a deterministic world
Neuroscientists manipulate Plum's reasoning in real time by radio
Neuroscientists programmed Plum at the start of his life

Show the answer

a, b, c, d

2.[3p]
What is Pereboom's preferred version of the argument?

The best explanation of Plum's non-responsibility in the first case applies equally to the fourth

Correct

No two adjacent cases differ at all

The answer is: The best explanation of Plum's non-responsibility in the first case applies equally to the fourth

Manipulated agents are never responsible, so no agent is

The answer is: The best explanation of Plum's non-responsibility in the first case applies equally to the fourth

Determinism entails that agents never deliberate

The answer is: The best explanation of Plum's non-responsibility in the first case applies equally to the fourth

3.[3p]
In Mele's zygote argument, what is the crucial second premise?

There is no relevant difference between Ernie and an ordinary agent in a deterministic world

Correct

Diana is responsible for what Ernie does

The answer is: There is no relevant difference between Ernie and an ordinary agent in a deterministic world

Ernie could have done otherwise

The answer is: There is no relevant difference between Ernie and an ordinary agent in a deterministic world

Determinism is true

The answer is: There is no relevant difference between Ernie and an ordinary agent in a deterministic world

4.[3p]
Match each reply to the manipulation argument with what it does.

The soft line
The hard line
Historical compatibilism
The sorites reply

accepts that the manipulated agent is responsible after all
treats the boundary as vague rather than principled
finds a condition the manipulated agent fails and the ordinary agent meets
makes freedom depend on how the agent came to be that way

Show the answer

The soft line: finds a condition the manipulated agent fails and the ordinary agent meets The hard line: accepts that the manipulated agent is responsible after all Historical compatibilism: makes freedom depend on how the agent came to be that way The sorites reply: treats the boundary as vague rather than principled

5.[3p]
Where does the soft line come under most pressure?

Between programming in infancy and ordinary community training, which the child also did not consent to

Correct

Between real-time manipulation and early programming

The answer is: Between programming in infancy and ordinary community training, which the child also did not consent to

Between determinism and indeterminism

The answer is: Between programming in infancy and ordinary community training, which the child also did not consent to

Between Ernie and Diana

The answer is: Between programming in infancy and ordinary community training, which the child also did not consent to

6.[2p]
In Nichols and Knobe's 2007 study, what percentage judged the concrete murderer in a deterministic universe to be fully morally responsible?

CorrectNot quite: 72

7.[2p]
In the same study, what percentage said abstractly that people in a fully deterministic universe are not fully responsible?

CorrectNot quite: 86

8.[3p]
What does Nahmias mean by "bypassing"?

Reading determinism as the claim that beliefs and desires make no difference to what we do

Correct

Skipping the deliberation stage of a decision

The answer is: Reading determinism as the claim that beliefs and desires make no difference to what we do

Manipulating an agent without their knowledge

The answer is: Reading determinism as the claim that beliefs and desires make no difference to what we do

Ignoring the alternative possibilities condition

The answer is: Reading determinism as the claim that beliefs and desires make no difference to what we do

9.[2p]
The manipulation argument's key premise is a claim about an artificial case that experimental work shows to be framing-sensitive.

True

Correct

False

The answer is: True

1.[3p] Put Pereboom's four cases in the order he presents them.

2.[3p] What is Pereboom's preferred version of the argument?

3.[3p] In Mele's zygote argument, what is the crucial second premise?

4.[3p] Match each reply to the manipulation argument with what it does.

5.[3p] Where does the soft line come under most pressure?

6.[2p] In Nichols and Knobe's 2007 study, what percentage judged the concrete murderer in a deterministic universe to be fully morally responsible?

7.[2p] In the same study, what percentage said abstractly that people in a fully deterministic universe are not fully responsible?

8.[3p] What does Nahmias mean by "bypassing"?

9.[2p] The manipulation argument's key premise is a claim about an artificial case that experimental work shows to be framing-sensitive.

1.[3p]
Put Pereboom's four cases in the order he presents them.

2.[3p]
What is Pereboom's preferred version of the argument?

3.[3p]
In Mele's zygote argument, what is the crucial second premise?

4.[3p]
Match each reply to the manipulation argument with what it does.

5.[3p]
Where does the soft line come under most pressure?

6.[2p]
In Nichols and Knobe's 2007 study, what percentage judged the concrete murderer in a deterministic universe to be fully morally responsible?

7.[2p]
In the same study, what percentage said abstractly that people in a fully deterministic universe are not fully responsible?

8.[3p]
What does Nahmias mean by "bypassing"?

9.[2p]
The manipulation argument's key premise is a claim about an artificial case that experimental work shows to be framing-sensitive.