Guided Reading on Holbach's System of Nature (Baron Paul d'Holbach)

Question 1

Hard Determinism

Answer 1

all events, including human actions, are determined by prior causes, leaving no room for free will.

Question 2

Holbach’s arguments for Universal Causation:

Answer 2

Materialism: Everything, including human actions, is part of the physical world and governed by natural laws.

Causal Necessity: Every event, including human decisions, is caused by prior events, leaving no room for free will or randomness.

Prediction and Explanation: The regularity of events can be explained and predicted by the laws of nature, reinforcing that everything is causally determined.

Question 3

The Libertarian and compatibilist response to the materialist argument

Answer 3

Libertarian Response-Libertarians argue that human beings do have free will, and that actions are not entirely determined by prior causes. They may reject the idea that humans are solely material beings, suggesting that consciousness and decision-making abilities allow for choices independent of causality.

Compatbilist Response-Compatibilists accept that actions are causally determined but argue that free will can still exist as long as individuals act according to their desires and intentions, even if those desires are causally determined. They reconcile determinism and free will by redefining freedom as acting without external constraints, rather than the ability to choose differently in identical situations.

Question 4

Challenges for Hard Determinism:

Answer 4

Illusion of Deliberation: Hard determinism must explain why humans experience the illusion of choice and deliberation if their actions are predetermined.

Moral Responsibility: If actions are determined, it’s difficult to justify moral responsibility—how can individuals be held accountable for actions they were destined to take?

Psychological Experience: The common experience of freedom of choice contradicts the idea that all actions are predetermined.

Rehabilitation: If people are not responsible for their actions, how can the concept of rehabilitation or punishment for wrongdoing be justified?