Implication Β·Criminal law should focus on deterrence, not retribution
If people can't freely choose their actions, punishing them for choosing immoral acts doesn't make sense. Punishing should be about preventing future harm.
Elaborate on other perspective Β·Difference between free actions and constrained actions.
Free actions are caused by things internal to a human (like will). These actions involved a choice between A or B. Constrained actions, including mental disorders, involve external forces that preclude someone from a choice. The person could only choose A.
Author's extension Β·Actions resulting from regular brains are free
Even if those actions results from wills that are "determined" by the brain, they're still free.
Passage Style
19.
One purpose of the reference ββ βββ ββββββ ββ βββββββ β ββ βββββ ββββ βββββββ ββββββββ ββ ββββββ βββββββββ ββ βββββββ ββ ββ ββ
Question Type
Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Structure
The purpose of the reference to Hume is to show that Ayerβs theory of soft determinism was not completely new.
a
characterize Ayer as βββββββ βββ ββ βββ ββ ββββββββ βββββββ
The author of Passage B isnβt trying to say anything negative about Ayer. The passage is focused on the substance of Ayerβs argument, not on characterizing Ayer as a thinker.
b
add credence to βββ ββββββ ββ ββββ βββββββββββ
This is the closest answer to our anticipated purpose. By showing that Ayerβs theory wasnβt completely new, the author adds some support for the plausibility of soft determinism.
c
suggest that the ββββββ ββ ββββ βββββββββββ ββ βββββββββ ββ ββββββββββ ββββββββββ
The author is very much concerned with the actual logic and substance of soft determinism. The author describes this theory in detail and applies it to what weβve discovered about the brain. So the purpose isnβt to suggest that the theory is mainly of historical importance; itβs important because of its substance.
d
suggest that the ββββββ ββ ββββ βββββββββββ βββ ββββ ββ βββββββββ ββ ββββ ββ βββββββββββ ββββββββββββ ββ βββ βββββ ββββ
We donβt know that mechanistic descriptions of the brain have been around as long as Humeβs argument. In any case, the purpose isnβt related to the timeline of mechanistic descriptions of the brain.
The reference to Hume may add intellectual respectability to soft determinism, but soft determinism does not assert that the brain should not be described mechanistically. Soft determinism is the view that free will is compatible with determinism.
Difficulty
85% of people who answer get this correct
This is a moderately difficult question.
It is somewhat easier than other questions in this passage.
CURVE
Score of students with a 50% chance of getting this right
25%130
142
75%155
Analysis
Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Structure
Comparative
Law
Answer Popularity
PopularityAvg. score
a
2%
159
b
85%
165
c
2%
155
d
5%
157
e
6%
160
Question history
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