자유의지 도덕적 책임 그리고 도덕교육

Abstract

자유의지라는 용어는 도덕과 관련된 담론에서 오랫동안 여러 가지 측면에서 논의되어 왔다. 특히 도덕적인 책임문제와 관련되어 논의되는 경향이 짙다. 아울러, 자유의지에 관한 논의가 있을 때마다 제기되곤 하는 것이 인과성에 근거한 결정론이다. 자유의지와 결정론의 관계에 관한 논의는 크게 양립불가능론과 양립가능론으로 대별된다. 필자는 본 논문을 통해, 원인 속에 이유도 포함시키면서, 양립가능론에 적극적인 견해를 펼쳤다. 양립가능론에 근거한 자유의지가 도덕적인 책임 및 도덕교육의 전제조건임을 밝히고, 가치갈등상태에 접했을 때는, 선택이나 도덕적인 신념체제의 구체적인 근거로 이익극대화의 원리와 대등한 존경의 원리를 제시했다. 여하튼 우리에게는 어떤 선택을 할 때는 그 근거가 되는 기준(이유)이 필요하다. 이런 점에서 자유의지는 자신의 통제근거와 밀접한 관련을 지니며, 결정론과는 양립가능하다.

The free will problem is usually viewed in terms of the trichotomy of nonreconciling determinism / reconciling determinism / libertarianism and also by the dichotomy of incompatibilism vs. compatibilism. This study defends reconciling determinism in the trichotomy and compatibilism in the dichotomy. Compatibilism appears to be most sound because free choice is different from capriciousness. If there were no deterministic aspects of human beings at all, their actions would be unpredictable. Moreover, if one does not have a free will, one could or should not be held morally responsible for one's action. Moral responsibility presupposes free will which is not exempted from causality. 'Freedom to do otherwise' does not mean examption from causality. In broad sense, cause-effect relationships include reason-action relationships. Of course, causal relationships are known on the basis of inductive evidence, whereas one can know the reasons for one's own action. Free will is a necessary condition for moral responsibility and it should also be seen as compatible with determinism. When we face value conflicts, we need a set of criteria for defining what is desirable because these criteria serve as a basis for making moral choices. One of the main criteria is a moral belief system based on such principles as the principle of benefit maximization and that of equal respect. Moral choices and actions are influenced by moral belief system. Moral belief system plays an important role in one's criteria for making moral judgment. The criteria become the motives of choices. The preceding view of the relationship between free will, determinism, and moral belief system has implications for moral education. Moral education is related to the formation of moral acts and belief systems. Formation of good habits means an internalization of norms such as moral principle and moral belief system. Thinking and acting soundly are the most desirable moral characteristics of a person. A reasonable person requires to have a foresight about future consequences of his/her own actions. A moral agent should examine his/her impulses with a moral belief system for self-control.