Free Will And Determinism Flashcards
What is hard determinism
That human beings are controlled by external forces
What is libertarianism
That human beings can exercise total free will
What is soft determinism
Libertarianism and hard determinism combined
Idea that humans are to some extent controlled by external forces but can still make their own choices
David Hume
Believed nature was ultimately in control of human destiny
Thomas Reid
Rejected Hume
Came up with common sense philosophy - humans have free will - limited by nature but this doesn’t affect their free will
Individual ability to control your own life
Adam smith
Inspired by Reid
Capitalism - economic libertarianism
For humans to reach full potential they must be free from social and governmental controls
Free will - learning responsibility for actions
Criticisms of libertarianism
Humans are hard wired to behave in a certain way - evolution DNA
Absolute free will does not create moral responsibility - smith invisible hand which guides us
John Locke
Soft determinism
Tabula rasa - mind as a blank slate
Sensory reactions to the external world are what fills this blank slate
These sensory reactions are determined by nature
Eg disabled person cannot be Olympic runner
Hume
Nature has ultimate control
Constant union of others eg volcano erupts - ash prevents you from flying - out of your control but u use free will to resolve situation
Events are determined - individual uses free will to act
Criticisms of soft determinism
Libertarians reject Hume and Locke - if human actions are determined by events then free will is an illusion - not free will - determined by situation
Darrow
Hard determinism
