Just to give you my view:
There are different degrees of external freedom...some people are imprisoned, some people or not,for example. Etc.
However, I know of no evidence whatsoever that our Wills are free. We are just doing what we are doing like the rest of the universe does, whether conscious or unconscious, living or non-living, etc. I do not believe in Free Will - although this doesn't mean I am a determinist. I consider the poll a false dichotomy. You can disbelieve free will whether you're a determinist or indeterminist. If our wills are more random that doesn't make them "Free". The lottery is random and that isn't exactly freedom of control. So if we are more indetermined, as the universe is, that doesn't give us any more free will (Which is what drives us, what controls us, etc.).
So no, in my eyes it does not make sense to blame someone for their actions. That won't stop people from doing it however, it's natural to. I try to catch myself if I ever end up doing it.
However, there could be an exception: What if, in a certain situation(s), it were good for the future if you blamed someone? If blaming someone could ever change the future for the better on the whole, then it can be worth it.
But as a general rule it makes no sense so isn't worth it and is unethical I say. It makes no sense to blame people simply to punish them for the sake of punishing because they are "evil", it only makes sense if it effects the future properly.
A very simple example: Whether Hitler 'could have done otherwise' or not, it's still a good thing for humanity that he was fought against and defeated I say!!
Likewise, when criminals do something horrific, it's almost certainly better for them to be kept away from the public, to be put in prison - than for them to be just "let off", whether they can 'do otherwise'...or not.
EvF
There are different degrees of external freedom...some people are imprisoned, some people or not,for example. Etc.
However, I know of no evidence whatsoever that our Wills are free. We are just doing what we are doing like the rest of the universe does, whether conscious or unconscious, living or non-living, etc. I do not believe in Free Will - although this doesn't mean I am a determinist. I consider the poll a false dichotomy. You can disbelieve free will whether you're a determinist or indeterminist. If our wills are more random that doesn't make them "Free". The lottery is random and that isn't exactly freedom of control. So if we are more indetermined, as the universe is, that doesn't give us any more free will (Which is what drives us, what controls us, etc.).
So no, in my eyes it does not make sense to blame someone for their actions. That won't stop people from doing it however, it's natural to. I try to catch myself if I ever end up doing it.
However, there could be an exception: What if, in a certain situation(s), it were good for the future if you blamed someone? If blaming someone could ever change the future for the better on the whole, then it can be worth it.
But as a general rule it makes no sense so isn't worth it and is unethical I say. It makes no sense to blame people simply to punish them for the sake of punishing because they are "evil", it only makes sense if it effects the future properly.
A very simple example: Whether Hitler 'could have done otherwise' or not, it's still a good thing for humanity that he was fought against and defeated I say!!
Likewise, when criminals do something horrific, it's almost certainly better for them to be kept away from the public, to be put in prison - than for them to be just "let off", whether they can 'do otherwise'...or not.
EvF
