Support and Contradictions of Hard Determinism and...

Freedom is the ability to do what a person desires and is capable of. For centuries philosophers have questioned if humans really have free will or not. There are two bodies of thought on the subject. Determinists insist that choices are irrelevant to reality because there is a fated design for everyone. Libertarianists allege that humans make choices and guide themselves through a decision making process and are in absolute control of their futures. The thesis of determinism seems to contradict ordinary experiences, whereas the theory of libertarianism disregards event-causation. Philosopher Walter T. Stace proposed an alternative compatibilist philosophy. In order to recognize the ways in which Stace effectively amalgamates the two thesis utilizing his campatibilist approach, an objective examination of the three ideas is compulsory. The following article will define the support and contradictions of hard determinism and libertarianism, as well as clarify the ways in which compatib ilism is a practical alternative. Hard determinists believe that genetics determine personalities and actions only through the Newtonian laws of cause and effect. They affirm that freedom and free will are fiction and because of this humans have no moral responsibility for their actions. They insist that the sources of motivation behind their thoughts and actions are causualistic and predictable and that free will is an illusion triggered by convenience and ego. The past determines the future.Show MoreRelatedCritically Assess the View That We Are Not Responsible for Our Evil Actions1247 Words   |  5 Pagesmoral situations and that all moral actions have uncontrollable prior causes. Hard determinists, therefore, follow the belief that humans can not be morally blameworthy for their actions, evil or not, because their actions are predetermined. However, this is a ridiculous stance to take as humans are free to make moral choices, meaning they are entirely responsible for their evil actions. Many argue that hard determinism is the best approach to take when assessing this hypothesis as once you abandonRead MoreDeterminism, Compatibilism And Libertarianism1955 Words   |  8 Pagespopular of which are determinism, compatibilism and libertarianism. By discussing the similarities and differences of these perspectives, as well as the strengths and weaknesses, we can determine which of these is most accurate. Determinism is â€Å"the view that every event, including human actions, is brought about by previous events in accordance with universal causal laws that govern the world† (Chaffee 173), which would point to the idea that we do not have free will. Those who support the idea of determinismRead MoreDifference Between Foundationalism And Coherentism2017 Words   |  9 Pagesoriginal premises that support the claim are irrefutable truths which we have used as our foundation for the claim. Coherentism assumes that there is no basic foundational truths that our other beliefs can stand on, its rather a system of beliefs that stop regression by standing in supporting relations to one another. When the beliefs stand in correspondence together they get justification from one another as long as these relations are logically consistent and with out contradictions throughout the entiretyRead MoreThe Question of Free Will: Descartes, Hume, and Nietzsche Essay2067 Words   |  9 Pageswi thout necessity and acting on one’s own discretions, free will still enamors debates today, as it did in the past with philosophers Nietzsche, Descartes, and Hume. There are two strong opposing views on the topic, one being determinism and the other â€Å"free will†. Determinism, or the belief a person lacks free will and all events including human actions are determined by forces outside the will of an individual contrasts the entire premise of free will. Rene Descartes formulates his philosophical