Reading Comprehension

PT142 · S3 · P3 · Q17 Neuroscience & Criminal-Justice

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Passage A

Passage A Passage B

Topic neuroscience neuroscience free will vs. free will vs. determinism determinism crime sentences

Main if humans have yes, all actions are Point no free will, determined, but then retribution the ones caused by is dumb. Focus you are free, the on prevention. ones caused by external are constrained

Topic

How neuroscience and philosophy are shaping the debate over free will, determinism, and legal responsibility.

Framework

Present Debate

Main Point

Both passages discuss how recent neuroscience challenges traditional ideas about free will and responsibility, especially in the context of the law. Passage A argues for reconsidering punishment based on our understanding of the brain's role in behavior, while Passage B presents a philosophical defense (Ayer's "soft determinism") for the compatibility of determinism and free will. - (Passage A, first sentence) - (Passage B, third paragraph)

P1: Passage A – Neuroscience Challenges Law and Retribution

This paragraph opens by saying that neuroscience sees us as nothing more than our brains, and our behavior as entirely caused by brain activity. Because of this, it calls into question traditional legal ideas about free will and responsibility. The author suggests that the idea of punishing people simply because they "chose" to do wrong is flawed, since many of our apparently free decisions might actually be dictated by factors out of our control. The passage advocates shifting legal focus from retribution to deterring future harm, and even hints that this might lead to lighter sentences.

P1: Passage B – Determinism vs. Free Will

This paragraph begins by acknowledging that neuroscience is making the case for determinism—suggesting our actions are caused by the brain and thus not truly "free." Despite this, it notes that philosophers have long argued that free will can coexist with determinism.

17.

Both passages are concerned with answering which one of the following questions?

  1. Should people be punished for

    Out of Scope Passage B: punished

    Although we are certainly mentally tempted to connect the discussion in Passage B back to the crime and punishment topic in Passage A, the author of Passage B never discusses punishment.

    8% picked this

  2. Correct

    Does scientific research into the

    Why this is right

    Both passages began with neuroscience's deterministic view of the brain, and then pivot into its potential implications for free will. Passage A initially says "recent findings ... radically change the way we think about the law", but then reveals we're talking about whether it's delusional to think we're making "free and rational moral choices".

    Skill tested: Primary Purpose · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    75% picked this

  3. Can actions that are not

    Out of Scope Passage B: punishment

    Just like with (A), we know that passage B never got into crime and punishment.

    3% picked this

  4. Is the view that retribution

    Out of Scope Passage B: punishment

    Just like with (A) and (C), we know that passage B never got into crime and punishment.

    2% picked this

  5. Can an action be free

    Trap

    Out of Scope Passage A: forced actions Passage B does would not consider this its main question, but it did bring up "forced actions" as an example of a constrained action. Passage A, however, was talking about free will / determinism only in the context of actions we "choose" for ourselves. That passage never got into actions that are forced by some outside party. It was just about our actions being forced by our internal brain chemistry.

    12% picked this

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