Free Will Debate

Allison Simpkin

Phi 100

11/2/14

Free Will Debate

There are two ways a choice can be made, by force or by self-determined. Libertinism is when humans have full control over their actions and have the responsibility of accepting the consequences on their actions. The responsibility that comes along with this power can’t be controlled and it is fully on the individual. Hard Determinism is when external factors determine the actions that we take in result unlike Libertinism lack free will.  With Hard Determinism I states that humans are not responsible for our decision making. We can be put under a stressful decision, ie. A gun to our head and we make choices that may save our life, the choices may not be good in any way. In Hard Determinism our actions are pre-programed.

In my views Hard Determinism is more plausible than Libertinism.  Nine out of ten times we make choices with deciding external factor that can’t be changed.  Rather it be spending the day inside or outside depending on the weather or deciding to lie in certain situations.  As stated above, we can be placed under stressful situations and our choices are reflected upon our environment and not necessarily our self. In terms of Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Randomness the distance between electrons are determined by the environment and not how far apart we want them.  Yes we have the power to make a decision and accept the positive or negative results that we get from them. With Libertinism we have the power to lie to someone by our own will or by force. The majority of the time we lie to protect ourselves or someone else, most of the factors of lying are by external influences that can’t be changed.

(A)   Libertarianism has more explanatory breadth because it covers more on why acted the way they did and made the choice they did. For example if someone commits a crime, like stealing. Most of the time when you ask why someone committed a crime they would have a reason for it. The reason they stole could be solely their own temptation or someone held a gun to their head.  

(B)   In explanatory depth Libertinism is more connected to it. An example of this is when the man stole bread for his family. The man gave the reason that he was hungry and had no food. On the other hand the man also stole food because he was forced to by someone else. Another example is when the man was told to leave his office. Some say he left to go for his lunch break. However Determinist say that his boss forced him to leave.

(C)   For simplicity, the determinists view is more simplistic as it has only one cause for our actions and that is not free will. Then Libertarians are more complex with two reasons for our actions such as free will and innate actions that we fully choose to take part in.

(D)  For conservatism they are the same. It depends on view point of people and religious or philosophical belief. Some believe our actions are caused by forced situations and others feel that our actions are completely upon our own choosing. Both decision making are results of the way we live our daily lives.

 

1.      Libertarianism and determinism are the most plausible explanations of human behavior

2.      Determinists are more simplistic and realistic while Libertinisms has more logical explanatory breadth and explanatory depth.

3.      Therefore Determinism is the best way to explanation of our action