...that protect people from themselves. This is hard for libertarians to accept because in their opinions, each individual should have their own freedom. The core of libertarianism is the fact that we own our bodies, our earnings, and our earnings and this meaning the government has no right to take or limit any of these. Henry David Thoreau discusses in his “Civil Disobedience” many topics that are more informing on the topic of individual living rather than the community. Thoreau was a transcendentalist. Transcendentalists believed that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—ultimately corrupted the purity of the individual. They had faith that people are at their best when truly "self-reliant" and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true community could be formed. From Thoreau’s point of view, he would tell you to break a law regardless of the consequences if the law is unjust to another person. Thoreau not only harbored runaway slaves in his home, but he also refused to pay taxes since the money was going towards supplies that were going to be used in a war in which he though was unjust. This shows the individual freedom and will to do what he wants, but he also has to pay for the crimes he commits. As Sandel states in his writing, libertarianism starts with the idea that each individual has a right to himself or herself. With this being said, you are able to do whatever you want with yourself as long as you...
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...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 compatibilist 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 compatibilist 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. Determinism...
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...free will and everything is predetermined, while others dispute this and say that we have complete freedom to of what we wish. Doing as we wish is a key aspect of what defines free will. Hume defined liberty as ‘a power of acting or not acting, according to the determinations of the will’. This means that for a decision to be free, it must be solely of our own desires and not due to an external influence. Libertarianism is one theory that would agree with the claim that all humans are free to make moral decisions. Libertarianism is the idea that humans have complete free will. The Uncertainty principle, developed by Dr Heisenberg, discusses how the world and universe are unpredictable and indeterminable. This is used to back up libertarianism as we cannot know what is going to happen, when or where. Heisenberg also said that ‘ When we now the present precisely, we can predict the future’. However we do not know the present precisely and therefore anything could happen in the future which reinforces the idea of free will. In terms of making moral decisions, Libertarianism places moral responsibility upon the person who makes the decision. Nothing else but their own desires influences them, therefore only they can be held accountable, meaning that they must accept any blame or praise that comes about due to their decision. Hard determinism, on the other hand, is the idea that everything is determined for us and that there is no free will in our lives. Every decision that we...
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...Philosophers have debated whether the existence of free will is directly challenged by the existence of determinism, and in turn have created four possible outcomes. (Timpe, K, 2004) The first is hard determinism. This believes that complete determinism is true, that all actions are pre-conceived and reliant on the past in order to occur, thus rendering free will to be impossible. Following this, there is a compatibilist view. This view believes that although determinism is true, there is still the possibility for free will to occur (Smith, Q & Oaklander, L, 1995). Thirdly, there is hard incompatibilism. This encompasses the belief that determinism is completely false, and that free will is also not possible. Finally, there is libertarianism, another incompatibilist belief. In this, it is believed that determinism is ultimately false, and because of this, free will can occur (Smith, Q & Oaklander, L, 1995). Going back to the determinist viewpoint: how is free will directly challenged by such a belief? Ultimately, free will does not exist within such a theory. Within determinism, all things are pre-determined (Honderich. T 2015). The past has direct impact on the way things will occur in the future, and because of this, there are no choices, only actions that were always going to happen in one particular way. This inherently proves that free will cannot exist cohesively with this theory, because the existence...
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...April 2013 A Brief Introduction of Libertarianism and Its Dilemma Do all of our actions have a cause, and are we merely a functioning object following determinism? Or do we control our own behaviours, so we have free will? This long time argument has been extended into two opponent theories: Libertarianism and Hard Determinism. Both of these theories, who are fans of incompatibilism, indicate determinism and free will cannot exist at the same time. One the contrary, the compatibilist theory, Soft Determinism, asserts that determinism and free will can be consistent. As believers and defenders of free will, even though libertarians seem to have strong appeals with our common sense, many of them have a problem defining what freedom is. Some libertarians try to come up with a major argument, agent causation, to reject Determinism. But the argument faces its own dilemma. Since Libertarianism has many problems which do not seem to have any solution, I prefer to choose the position of Hard Determinism in this paper. The first appeal of Libertarianism, which aims to convince people to believe in free will, claims that people are so particular that they are detached from other things. No laws can control people’s behaviours, and therefore “they are free”. Regardless humans have souls or not, we are still the controller of our own behaviours (Conee and Sider, 2005, p.119). The ideology of Libertarianism is very convincing to most people, because that...
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...among them not with an outside government assistance. I believe that Keynesian economics would not work in this scenario in Dharavi because Keynesian economics is focused and works best in a short term while Dharavi needs so much more assistance. How might a Hayekian respond to Dharavi? Would Libertarians, Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand (from the egoism article) who are largely Hayekians, be horrified by this scenario? Unlike a Keynesian a Hayekian would be satisfied with what Dharavi was able to achieve. Hayekians believed that when people were able to freely do things in life and make decisions that the economy ran more efficiently. There economics is defined by a more freedom economy and less government interference. I feel that Libertarianism would not be horrified; their theory is of freedom from the government as long as there is no harm to others because of that freedom. I also think that a libertarian would be scared for people’s safety because of the poisonous living conditions in Dharavi. Are the technologies produced in Dharavi and the barefoot college, a product of capitalism or socialism? The technologies produces in Dharavi and the barefoot college are more of a product of capitalism....
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...himAnarchism Core themes: against the state Prefer a stateless society in which individuals manage their affairs by voluntary agreement. However it is based upon the assumption that human beings are moral creatures, instinctively drawn to freedom and autonomy. Therefore its efforts have been directed more towards awakening moral instincts rather than analysing the system of state oppression. Anarchism has a dual character as it overlaps with both socialism and liberalism because of their end goals of a stateless society. It can therefore be interpreted as ultra-liberalism or ultra-socialism. Anarchist supporters are united by a belief in anti-statism, utopianism, anti-clericalism and economic freedom. Anti-statism; * Authority is an offence against the principles of freedom and equality whilst oppressing and limiting human life. * Endorses absolute freedom and unrestrained political equality * Authority damages and corrupts those who are subject to it and those who hold it. * Since humans are free and autonomous creatures, to be subject to authority is to be diminished * To be in authority is to acquire an appetite for control and domination * The state is a sovereign body that exercises supreme power over individuals. It is unlimited and restricts behaviour, thinking, activity and economic life. * The state is compulsory and individuals are subject to it because of where they are born. * The state is a coercive body whose laws are backed...
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...FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM The concept of free will plays an important part in our apportioning blame or praise , and our holding persons morally responsible for their behavior and actions . In the philosophical work devoted to free will there is no strict definition of this concept but it is widely believed to be a condition necessary for moral responsibility . Proponents of determinism , libertarianism , and compatibilism explain the importance of free will in their theories each in their particular way (Compatibilism Lecture Notes on Free Will and Determinism central hero of Stephen Robinett 's The Satyr ' story can be regarded as a staunch proponent of philosophical hard determinism . Like a true determinist , Silenus , a satyr , does not believe he is responsible for his actions and behavior because he is the creation of another person , namely Hench . He explains his enormous interest in ladies as well as his promiscuous behavior by the fact that Hench gave him the extra Y-chromosome which became a major determinant of his behavior (Robinett According to the satyr , only human beings can be held responsible for what they do . As Silenus does not consider himself a human being on the one hand , and as he was created by Hench on the other hand , it is the latter that Silenus believes is responsible for him and for anything he does . Silenus maintains that he does not know exactly why he does things and that it is Hench who made him like this , and thus it is...
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...There are many features to the libertarian worldview. Individualism is the foundational principle of libertarianism. Human beings have dignity and are capable of making their own decisions. Everyone has the right to choose how they pursue life, liberty, and ownership of property and no one has the right to encroach upon an individual’s freedoms. Furthermore, people must be responsible for the consequences of their decisions. Libertarians also emphasize the value spontaneous order. Absent of central planners, the accumulation of people’s free choices is a complex network of real order. Civil societies, languages, markets, and laws have come about because free and like-minded individuals collaborate in order to each achieve their purposes. Libertarians are very skeptical of government. Because of their emphasis on individualism and spontaneous order, they view much of the existing political structure as unnecessary. However, most libertarians believe that the state is responsible to protect the inherent rights of humans. Valid functions of the state include law enforcement, the justice system, and basic military. Libertarians especially emphasize the need for protecting incentives. Incentives motivate individuals. Without incentives, societies will not advance. Therefore, the state must ensure that individuals get to keep the rewards of their efforts. Libertarian philosophy stresses the importance of free markets. As individuals have the right to secure property...
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...believer in the austrian theorist of economy. He holds a degree from Harvard, he has acquired his teaching skills from his many years at the University of Virginia, USA. Cantor is the author of several books, the content spanning a diverse range of topics. The libertarian approach is in which people must exercise the free market organization associated with minimal government intervention. Libertarians are strong supporters of the free market capitalism, a social system in which people encourage the ownership and control of private businesses, with few regulatory bodies. Libertarianism has become a crucial part of the society which has led to increased number of privately owned businesses. The number of people adopting and believing in the ideas of libertarianism is increasing and thereby this topic is extremely relevant in the prevalent times. The article talks about how libertarianism is a crucial aspect of today’s society, and promotes the most common aspect exercised by libertarians- defending capitalism. Cantor also discusses how the American citizens lack basic knowledge of the various benefits offered by the corporations. Instead, the public generalizes that corporations act like money machines, just in...
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...appropriate margins. *YOUR TITLE PAGE MUST INCLUDE: 1. THE COMPLETE QUESTION AS PRESENTED BELOW 2. YOUR NAME 3. YOUR STUDENT NUMBER 4. THE COURSE NAME (PHIL 1F90 section 1) 5. THE NAME OF YOUR TA 6. YOUR TURNITIN receipt number Remember to number the pages of your essay. NB. Failure to include this information will result in deductions. Any paper submitted without the turnitin.com receipt is a non-existent paper. Question ONE: Critically assess (which means explain then evaluate, Silenus’ - (the satyr), - Hench’s, - and Michael Gorr’s respective positions - vis-à-vis determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism. at the beginning of the story, Hench agrees with Silenus’ determinist position even though Hench himself was a libertarian. But at the end of the story? Which of three positions: determinism, libertarianism, or compatibilism are you most inclined to accept? Why? Question TWO: Suppose that the boy whose brain Tommy could receive is named Sam. According to Harry Vladek, Dr. Nicholson, John Perry – and you -- who is most likely to come home from the hospital, Tommy or Sam? Is there any good reason to believe the operation may result in a double death (both Tommy's and Sam's) even though the brain of Sam and the body of Tommy live on? Speculate what, if anything, might be different if instead of Sam’s brain, Samantha’s brain were...
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...Free Will The problem with free will is that if karma really exists then the subject of free will is in question. Free will is having the ability to make all decisions in your life and that you choose what to do. There are many different opinions about if free will is a real thing or is everything in your life predetermined by past events. Examples of these are determinism, libertarianism, and fatalism. Determinism as a whole is defined as believing that things that happen to you is directly affected by what happened to you in the past. There are different types of determinism and it can be split into two types; hard and soft. Hard determinism states that free will does not exist and that everything that happens in your life is predetermined by events in your past. Soft determinism says that you can both have free will about some things and that some things are predetermined. This is also known as compatibilism. An example of this is if you are walking down the street and someone points a gun at your head and says to give him your money. In this case, you do not seem to have a choice whether or not to give him the money. In the same scenario with a homeless man, you choose to give him the money because you want to help him. In both cases, you gave someone else the money but in the first, it was determined for you that you would have to give up the money to live while in the second case you choose to give up the money freely. If you have complete control over the situation...
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...LIBERTARIAN PARTY The Libertarian Party is an American Political Party founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party became popular in the Presidential election of 1980 in which it received 1 % of the votes. They are the third largest political party with more than 200,000 registered voters in the at least 50 states. The Libertarian Party believes that individuals are free to do as they please with their own lives and property as long as no one brings harm to the person or property of others. They fight for a free and peaceful world where everyone has the opportunity to pursue his or her own dreams without the sacrifice their personal values for the benefit of others. The Libertarian party is a combination of Conservatism and Liberalism believing that only through freedom can peace and prosperity prevail. They are strongly against government interference. LIBERTARIAN PRINCIPLES Freedom of Expression: * Libertarians support freedom of expression and are against government censorship. * Everyone has the right to choose a religion and engage in those religious practices as long as they do not violate the religious rights of others. Economic Liberties: * Libertarians support a clean and healthy environment and encourage the use of our natural resources. * Citizens should have the opportunities to achieve economic success. Secured Liberties: * The purpose of government is for the protection of individual rights. * Libertarians support the military...
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...colonialism, regardless of the consequences. (While Milton Friedman seemed to justify the colonialization of India, now that there was more economic development prior to its independence). 4. Rothbard Made Libertarians Total Losers Rothbard’s inability to compromise his beliefs and ideology should be seen as admirable and not as something to look down on. Compromising for the sake of politics has been the death and corruption of liberalism in the last two hundred years. Exceptions were made for the sake of politics, moving liberalism from its classical origins to the current statist and social liberal tradition found across Europe and Latin America. Conclusion: “Murray Rothbard wasn’t a libertarian and did nothing to benefit the growth of libertarianism.” is a statement made out of ignorance. Any individual that has picked up any of Murray Rothbard’s works will notice and be able to accept that he is one of the few or the only pro-liberty individual to help develop a libertarian political philosophy that is as consistent and well developed as...
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...Can compatibilism be defended? Introduction This essay argues in favor of a compatibilist, that free will and determinism can co-exist. Consequently it will support the concept of compatibilism and determine that it can be defended. Two basic ideas will be outlined in this argument in support of this claim. Firstly, the notion of compatibilism, that actions can be both free and causally determined (Shabo, 2012; Sober, 2009). Secondly, it will be deliberated what it means to act freely. Followed by a reply, these counter arguments will also be discussed; Incompatibilists disagree with these ideas and believe that determinism is true and that no person has free will, this is called hard determinism. In addition, a libertarian’s point of view; that we are free and our actions are not causally determined (Sober, 2009). Furthermore, the trouble with determining what freewill is. Argument 1 Compatibilism is the idea that determinism is true; every event in the world has a cause, however, freewill can still exist. The aim of a compatibilist is to show that an act can be done freely if it has been caused a certain way (Sober, 2009). This leaves room for the idea that freedom doesn’t require the absence of causality, but rather, the right kind of causality (Millican, 2010; Sober, 2009). This makes reasonable sense because it is common knowledge that the way an individual acts and thinks has been determined by their genes and past experiences. Who the person is has been affected...
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