...Ted Honderich Determinism Vs Free Will Psychology 101-1322 Professor: James Pattison By: Belinda Bielicki July 2, 2011 Determinism versus Free Will: The most important and the oldest philosophical question is perhaps that of free will and determinism. Do people have free will, or are our actions pre-determined? Ted Honderich defined determinism as the philosophical idea that every event or state of affairs, including every human decision and action, is the inevitable and necessary consequence of antecedent states of affairs. "Nothing occurs at random, but everything for a reason and by necessity." Determinism is used by philosophers to account for some of the choices and actions that cause or create the effects of causal sequences; these sequences raise questions about the freedom of the choices and actions. Determinists believe our decisions are controlled by previous exposure to differing situations and environments and that each and every one of our actions is caused by a specific prior action or cause. (a occurs because of b, b occurs because of c..etc) In the belief of a determinist, man is no exception to this rule and therefore we are not "free" due to our actions being a result of a previous cause. If we are to dispute that this in fact is true, than we as human beings cannot be held responsible for our actions, as we have no control over them, they are automatic. However this is not the case, when a human commits an act, they are held responsible for...
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...Free Will vs. Determinism ` One of the most reoccurring theoretical arguments of philosophy is the problem of free will and determinism. Walter Stace describes the famous debate between free will and determinism as one that does not have a simple solution because each side has substantial evidence that supports its ideas and beliefs. Although, Walter provides information on both approaches to free will, he was known to defend a view on the issue of free will and determinism called compatibilism. Compatibilism allows us to have a significant idea of what free will is as well as acknowledge that we do not decide to make spontaneous decisions but rather our choices are an outcome of previous causes. Basically, Stace claims that our natural choices are made at our own liberty and that we are in control of the most abrupt periods of a long causal chain. The concept of free will, well matched with determinism is crucial if we are to comprehend how anyone can be morally responsible for his or her actions. Stace's argument is mainly focused on the basic nature of morality and its significance to the problem of free will. Walter Stace claimed it is almost certain that if there is no free will there can be no morality. If morality is perceived to be of a fabricated nature, the question of what is primarily accurate and incorrect can now be challenged, as generally everything has already been predetermined. He then disputes that philosophers who oppose the reality of free will only...
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...Avery Suazo Free Will VS. Determinism Though it can be loosely traced back to modern arguments, which mainly revolve around religion, free will versus determinism has been a staple of debate for over a millennia. The side of free will argues that there is nothing inhibiting us, as humans, from making the choices we choose to make. I think that determinism, the other side of the argument, is incredibly vague and ambiguous; while free will is much more viable in every way. First, I will articulate the definitions and intricacies of both ideas; then, I will elaborate as to why free will is the winning choice in this debate; and finally, I will conclude with my final thoughts. Let’s start off with free will. The theory states that it is the ability to choose without constraint from any outside source of interference (e.g. social pressures, religion, law). By this theory, one can assume that any action is done by the will of the individual, which in turn proves that every action done has a sole agent responsible for said action. For example: Tommy goes to the store, he buys bananas. His mom calls and asks him to pick up some juice while he’s there. Note that Tommy may be naturally inclined to fulfill his mom’s request, but in no way is he out of control what choice he makes. Notice: inclined. He would likely choose to buy the juice as well as his bananas, because he is a good son and doesn’t mind spending the money for juice. He could also completely ignore what his mom says...
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...Number of items remembered daily will be averaged and at the end of a two week period final average for the day will determine if memory capability has actually increased. Free Will vs Determinism I am very much a proponent of free will. I believe that in most things in life that we as individuals exercise choice in the things we do. Even in circumstance that have been predetermined due to the choices made of others (violence of parents in the home) that are beyond our control, we can still choose to be or do things differently. Many people exercise free will in this regard. Refusal to become an alcoholic or drug addict, refusal to commit crimes, refusal to disrespect elders and the list goes on. Individuals are capable of choosing not to become a product of their environment. Free will also exists in religion. We have the choice of choosing whether or not to believe in a higher power, what we consume for sustenance, and how we present ourselves, just as we can choose whether or not to obey the law. Our choices have consequences and the results thereof may be either be positive or...
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...Jonathan Santos Professor Zalkaske PHIL 1301 28 October 2015 Freedom of the Will Humans are considered rational beings, but it has always been asked what can human beings do and to what extent do their abilities reach This question focuses on free will and determinism. An easy way to show free will and determinism is to think of paths that are forked and with each decision there are alternate routes you could have taken from the one you did and that with those alternate routes there are alternate futures. So for example you have a choice of going to the park or the mall by choosing the park your decision would put a fork in your road and the other choice the mall would be another fork in the road, but it would become an alternate future. Firstly,...
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...What is Free will? Free will is whether we as a human can mange to make our own decisions without being controlled, or if we are controlled and the decisions that happen are meant to happen. Is it our fate? Or is it possible that everyone makes their own future and pays for their own consequences? Whether it be Rene Descartes beliefs or John Locke ideas of the meaning of free will. These are many philosophers that have gone into detail describing free will and determinism but it is varied due to the fact we all think differently. Free will is described as the human will be regarded as free from restraints, compulsions, freedom of decision or choice. The dictionary describes determinism as the doctrine that everything is entirely determined...
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...Free Will and Determinism One issue with human kind as a whole that has been continuing since the beginning of time is the question of free will. Do human beings really have free will, or is our destiny predetermined by fate? To fully take a side, one has to look at and understand both sides of the argument. Firstly there is the concept of Determinism, which is basically that all events are caused by prior events, and that given the causes of a human’s choices or actions, there is no way that that human could have acted otherwise. Obviously, this is incompatible with the concept of free will, because free will suggests that humans do have a choice. Although there are two different sides to the argument of free will, there is compatibilist and libertarianism free will. Compatibilist free will suggests that free will and determinism are compatible. That it is possible for a person to act freely if the action is not caused by an external factor but rather by an internal factor, caused by processes in the brain. Libertarian free will denies that determinism and compatibilism are true and that free will exists. Libertarians define an action as free if the person doing it could have done otherwise, or that is was possible to act differently. I believe that humans do have free will to the extent of their own power, making me a compatibilist. A person cannot stop a car accident from happening and making them late to work, but they can choose to turn around and take a different route...
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...The "free will versus determinism" argument has been a progressing question since Plato's rise in the philosophical world. I personally believe that man has free will to an extent. For example, man has the free will to decide whether he wants to stay at home or travel to an island. However, man does not posses the free will to transport their body to either destination, simply because they "will" it. There are many cases such as this, but my belief remains the same, that man does possess free will, however there are limitations. To begin my argument, I must first explain the difference between determinism and free will. I will then explain why some believe in one more highly than the other. Lastly, I will defend my argument regarding man's possession of free will to an extent....
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...determine the right and good action. The theory is considered a foundation of moral principle. An example of this could be in a life or death scenario the decisions you make. Do you try to help others or save yourself? Natural law theory states that you would think in an emotional, intellectual, and rational mindset and ultimately your morals would decipher what your next action is. 4. Oppression, according to Marilyn Frye: Oppression is defined as unjust treatment or no control. Marilyn Frye describes oppression as “a system of interrelated barriers and forces which reduce, immobilize, and mold people who belong to a certain group and effect their subordination to another group”. Frye believed people were limited and many times less than free. There have been many examples in history of oppression. A clear example would be when certain societies look at women as property. There, the women are...
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...Determinism vs Free Will “Determinism is the thesis that everything that occurs happens of necessity.” (Palmer, pg 220). The question of free will is one which has been hotly debated for millennia. Some people believe that humans have the capacity for free will - the ability to choose their actions without being forced to follow a certain course by either by the influence of others or by natural laws. For many theists, free will is regarded as a special gift from God. The notion of human free will is also an important premise for a lot of what happens in human society, in particular, when it comes to our legal system. Professor Embree stated in class free will is necessary for the notion of personal responsibility (Embree, 10/14/14). If people do not have free will, then it is difficult to argue that they are personally and morally responsible for their actions - and if that is the case, how can they be punished for their misdeeds? Free will and determinism are two major theories that have been argued throughout time in order to explain the way individuals’ lives are projected and set up throughout their lifetime. Others, however, argue that if the universe itself is deterministic in nature, then human actions must also be deterministic, thus, modern determinism tends to be an outgrowth of modern science. If human actions simply follow the course of natural law, then it is difficult to hold that those actions can be "freely" chosen. Those who advocate determinism run into...
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...W. T. Stace is a compatibilist meaning that determinism, the perspective that every action is caused by external occurrences, thus humans have no free will, and free will, possessing the ability to make our own choices, can somehow interconnect. To clarify, in determinism, a choice is a result of a previous choice that was also caused by a previous choice; it is a chain. This sequence is endless which further vindicates the determinist belief that everything has a cause and is established before a “decision” is even reached. A simple illustration of this is someone entering a coffee shop, debating between ordering a Chai tea or a vanilla latte, and ordering a vanilla latte. Many determinists would say that, resulting from previous actions, it was impossible for the person to choose tea as it was already determined they would choose the latte. As for the free will side of this situation, one would say that even with the same proceedings, the person still possesses the ability to choose to order tea. With every action, this same deliberation exists....
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...Free Will vs. Determinism Socrates: “What is the definition of determinism?” Maria: “It, the theory or doctrine that acts of will and occurrences in nature or social or psychological phenomena are usually caused by preceding events or natural laws? Socrates: “What is the definition of free will?” Maria: “Free will is a voluntary choice or decision, freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or divine intervention, humanity has the freedom of choice, since our choices are ours in the first place, although they must have an explanation.” Socrates: “Do you agree that every event has an explanatory cause?” Maria: “Yes I would like to think that some situations do not hold warrant explanations, every event does have an explanatory cause, and how do we explain the events and how they come about they just don’t happen by chance” Socrates: “How do we define events?” Maria: “Events are things that happen such as natural disasters, births death and weddings” Socrates: “How do you define explanatory cause?” Maria: “If what you’re asking determines whether or not there is an explanation for why something happened that led to a specific effect it is an event like when you have a baby and then a shower for the baby.” Socrates: “Would you agree that every choice or event would have an explanatory cause?” Maria: “Yes, I would like to believe that sometimes some choices or events are random leading to free will.” Socrates: “How...
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...Philosophy Free Will vs. Determinism Socrates: “What is the definition of determinism?” Maria: “It, the theory or doctrine that acts of will and occurrences in nature or social or psychological phenomena are usually caused by preceding events or natural laws? Socrates: “What is the definition of free will?” Maria: “Free will is a voluntary choice or decision, freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or divine intervention, humanity has the freedom of choice, since our choices are ours in the first place, although they must have an explanation.” Socrates: “Do you agree that every event has an explanatory cause?” Maria: “Yes I would like to think that some situations do not hold warrant explanations, every event does have an explanatory cause, and how do we explain the events and how they come about they just don’t happen by chance” Socrates: “How do we define events?” Maria: “Events are things that happen such as natural disasters, births death and weddings” Socrates: “How do you define explanatory cause?” Maria: “If what you’re asking determines whether or not there is an explanation for why something happened that led to a specific effect it is an event like when you have a baby and then a shower for the baby.” Socrates: “Would you agree that every choice or event would have an explanatory cause?” Maria: “Yes, I would like to believe that sometimes some choices or events are random leading to free will.” Socrates:...
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...Name Professor Course Date Philosophy Free will can be termed as the ability of agents to make choices with no constrains of different dynamic factors. This principle of free will has implications on religion, legal and ethical factors among others. Philosophers since time immemorial have debated extensively on the existence or the nonexistence of free will in nature.one of this philosophical figure is David Hume, he maintains that humans are free because of decisions and their actions. This is so because though determined, they are determined by our individual motives. He demonstrated that determinism is a very integral part to the existence of individual free will. This therefore means that because our actions being determined causally by our motives and character human beings are morally responsible and are free willed. This then becomes a point of objection because if everything is caused, then what we decide is itself caused. Hume argues that human motives and desire is the Couse of their decisions. Determinism argument is not that we are free but that free will exists. The other philosopher who contributed this debate is Thomas Hobbes. He had a slightly different view on determinism and free will from those held by Hume. He said that God is the ultimate origin of every action, but if humans are not physically required to do any action, there is free will. Hobbes developed his thesis in name of liberty vs. necessity, as opposed free will vs. outwardly determined will. The order...
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...Introduction Personality theorist are interested in the structure of an individual, how are people “put together”, how do they “work” and how do they “fall apart” (Boeree, n.d). Other personality theorists go as far as saying that they are looking for the essence of life, what it means to be a human being. Since the science of personality can be so complex, many psychologists have dedicated their life to the field of personality, attempting to understand and clarify what makes each individual unique and different from everyone. Several personality theories were born in the course of time, two of those theories of personality are called psychoanalytical and humanistic theories. This paper will further explain each of them, their strengths and limitations, their assumption, amongst other crucial factors for each approach. Psychodynamic Theories Various psychologists contributed to the formation of psychodynamic theories of personality including Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Karen Horney, Melanie Klein, Harry S. Sullivan, along with others, yet one of the most influential psychologists in psychodynamic theories was Sigmund Freud. While Freud’s theories were later changed or dismissed, his ideas and research were used by many others and have greatly influenced society as it is currently known; moreover his psychoanalytic theory was the original and primary psychodynamic theory which was adjusted by some of his followers previously mentioned. According to McLeod (2007), the psychodynamic...
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