Free will and moral responsibility

Free will and moral responsibility is a central topic in the philosophy of religion and ethics, exploring whether humans have genuine freedom to choose their actions and whether they can be held morally accountable for them. This topic is crucial for AQA A-Level Religious Studies as it underpins debates about the nature of God, evil, and human purpose. Students must engage with key philosophical positions: libertarianism (incompatibilist free will), hard determinism (no free will, no moral responsibility), and soft determinism/compatibilism (free will compatible with determinism). The topic also examines theological perspectives, such as Calvinist predestination and Arminian free will, and their implications for moral responsibility.

The significance of this topic extends beyond the classroom: it challenges students to consider whether punishment, praise, and blame are justified if actions are determined by prior causes. It also connects to the problem of evil—if God is omnipotent and benevolent, why does evil exist? One response is that free will is necessary for genuine love and moral growth, but this raises questions about whether free will is worth the cost of suffering. Students must critically evaluate arguments from both secular and religious viewpoints, using scholars like Augustine, Aquinas, Hume, and modern philosophers like Peter van Inwagen and Daniel Dennett.

Mastering this topic requires understanding key terminology (e.g., determinism, indeterminism, causal necessity, moral responsibility) and being able to apply these concepts to exam questions. AQA often asks students to compare different views on free will, assess the coherence of libertarian free will, or evaluate whether moral responsibility requires free will. Strong answers will demonstrate precise knowledge of philosophical arguments, use of scholarly references, and critical analysis of strengths and weaknesses.