Blog Post 3

Emily Estanislau

blog post 3

11/2/14

                                       Libertarianism and Determinism

In the free will debate there are two sides, either the libertarians or the determinists. Libertarians believe that we are able to control and change our actions. We are in charge and responsible for our own actions. While determinists on the other hand believe that humans lack free will. They argue that human actions were only caused by other events that had happened psychologically or physically in the past.

I believe that libertarianism is more plausible than determinism because it can explain the choices that humans make. An example that shows free will from the reading is when Gandhi fasted for a week because he wanted India to get its independence. He was fully responsible for his decision to fast for India’s independence. Another example in the reading is the man stealing bread because he was hungry. This man was in charge and responsible for his own actions, he was never forced to steal the bread.

Libertarianism has more explanatory breadth because it is able to explain human actions better. Libertarianism is better at explaining because humans are responsible and are able to control our actions. Determinism on the other hand only explains our behavior by external forces.

Determinism has more explanatory depth than libertarianism because it focuses on different external forces that have happened in the past. Determinism can explain their behavior because they can blame it on society or other external causes. An example would be a person being afraid of dogs because of a traumatic experience that happened in their childhood. Another example would be a person stealing because they were forced. Determinism explains human behavior in greater detail.

Determinism is more simplistic because it has fewer parts in explaining human behavior than libertarianism. This is because with determinism there is only one cause for human behavior and that is caused by past events.

For conservatism it is both determinism and libertarianism. This is because it depends on their point of view and certain beliefs on things.

1.     Libertarianism and determinism are the most plausible explanation for the causes of human behavior

2.     Libertarianism has much more explanatory breadth, whereas determinism has more simplicity and explanatory depth.

3.     Therefore, libertarianism is the best explanation for human behavior.