The philosophical ideas of determinism, compatibilism and libertarianism - Essay Example

?Philosophy Essay – Determinism, compatibilism and libertarianism Introduction Philosophy is a complex term and also a concept complicated in nature for explaining, understanding and conceiving. Some of the philosophical ideas are determinism, compatibilism and libertarianism. These are certain concepts which are largely connected to human lives and the way they contemplate life. These terms can be explained and described more clearly, so that their real meaning is understood in a broad sense. Determinism is a concept which is often misconceived as it is linked with pre- determinism and determination. In real sense, determinism is the philosophical idea which explains that all events and human actions and affairs are based on the inevitable consequences of action done in past. According to (Honderich)“The subjects in the philosophy of Determinism and Freedom include the nature of causation, the different kind of freedom that is voluntariness rather than free will or origination and so on”. On the other hand, compatibilism is defined as pre- destination or freewill and is also interpreted as soft determinism. Compatibilism is claiming that people are free but not in a destructive manner. This concept believes that, freedom should be understood in a different way that is for the welfare of humanity and our natural environment. It is a philosophical idea, which is more linked with merging events with a human’s environment and circumstances.One another philosophical term is libertarianism. This concept means humans have complete freedom in life and can live life with freewill. Comparison of Determinism and Compatibilism Determinism and compatibilism are two philosophical concepts which are strongly connected to human acts, behavior and events happening as a result. Determinism and compatibilism is voluntary in nature and when compared both these concepts has certain similarities. Determinism is a freedom which influences man to act in a certain manner which leads to further events or happenings. In the same manner, compatibilism is also an act which when performed in align with a person’s surroundings bring about positive after effects. In the same way, determinism is exclusively related to the freedom of human to act or react, just as compatibility. Compatibility is a philosophical idea which states that the free will is strongly linked with the pre- destined fate. Determination is also in a way, a strong belief within a person to act in a certain way to achieve a positive result in align with their fate. Comparision of Determinism and Libertarianism While determinism is a strong belief within a person to achieve some goal in align with pre- destined fate. Libertarianism is also a concept which believes that the human actions and events related to it are not within our control. Determinist believes that irrelevant to the action and thoughts of a person, the events happen according to a predetermined frame work of deeds. Same way, libertinism claims that actions of a person are not controllable and free will is just an opportunity for a person to prove his integrity and truthfulness to humanity and universe. Comparison of Compatibilism with Libertianism Compatibilism is a philosophical idea which believes that determinism and free will is connected deeply but the applicability of a person’s thought and actions is out of control in relation to uncontrollable external environment .On the other hand, libertinism is a concept which propagates complete freedom to human beings in any circumstances. Compatibility also detail about ethics and moral responsibility on a person, whereas libertinism states that ethical and moral responsibility of a person high due to the ultimate freedom given to him. Compatibility believes that freewill and determinism makes a complete combination. Obviously, Libertinism agrees with this matter as it advocates ultimate freedom to the human in every circumstance. According to (Wilmot) “Libertinism is the conviction that one has to be liberated from moral restraints in order to be truly free”. Contrasting Determinism, Compatibles and Libertinism If one contrast these three philosophical which are determinism , compatibilism and libertianism, it can be understood that compatibles is more acceptable way of living than the other two. Determinism is different from compatibles as it takes in to account pre – destination. But, compatibles and libertianism, does not believe in fate and pre- destination. Compatibilism can be understood as the combination of one’s ideas and thoughts in relevancy with external environment. While, determinism takes in to account past deeds of a person, libertinism gives full freedom to a person and his ideas and thoughts. Even though, these three philosophical ideas have similarities they are at the same time contradictory. These ideas also have certain strength and weaknesses. Determinism - Strength and Weaknesses The strength of determinism is that, it gives us a preview or understanding about an object in present and future. In simple terms, we can predict the fate of an object without much difficulty. The weakness of this philosophical idea is that it can act upon the process of free will. When we do an act, we think whether to do this or not to do this. Compatibilism – Strength and weaknesses The strength of compatibilism is that it denies the fact that free will do exist and people are surviving according to the pre- destination. According to this idea, people have no choice but have to act according to the laws of universe, which in broader sense is the Newton’s law of physics. As per(The Information Philo) “Compatibilists argue that determinism is compatible with human freedom, and that indeterminism is not compatible or at best incoherent. They feel (correctly) that there must be a deterministic or causal connection between our will and our actions”. The Weakness of this idea is that, it ignores the human rights of people which is the free will that is to do right or wrong. Libertianism – Strength and weaknesses The strength of Libertianism is that it believes in the fact that human beings are enormously free to think, act and react to a situation. This is a strong philosophical idea, as human beings have affinity towards freedom as they are universal beings and by nature they have the right to live freely. However, the weakness is that the free will or the freedom of human beings on which libertianism is based cannot be accepted or practically applied as it can bring negative or disastrous consequences. The Best Philosophical idea – Determinism Determinism is an ideal philosophical idea because it acts upon pre- destined facts. According to determinism, the acts we perform in our daily life are based on cause and effect theorem. Every action has a reaction depending on things one have done in past. In determinism there is condition on the action of people and this is entirely true because sometimes even a good thought or action performed by a person can give him negative outcome. Determinism is a true idea, because it believes in previous birth and deeds done in those times. As a matter of fact, every action has a reaction but determinism is having a contrasting view upon free will. In real sense, people possess free will, but it is applicability and consequences are unpredictable, which makes determinists think of it as invalid. According to (Mcclure) “Determinism holds that every event is caused in a predictable way by events before it.Free will means that we make choices from a variety of options” .Determinism is much likely to be corrects because many a times people perform a good deed but the result which is gotten can be good or bad. So it can be perfectly assumed that action done at present do not decide the nature of its result. Due to the same reason, determinism is interpreted as causal determinism. Conclusion The philosophical ideas as determinism, compatibilism and libertinism are strongly connected with free will, human rights and pre- destination, fate and morality. These ideas are deeply connected to each other and comparing and contrasting them, give us an idea that all of these ideas claim about the existence of free will and human freedom. As per (Salles 16)“ In sharp contrast with fatalism, stoic determinism contents that the futures is determined by the present ,just as the present is determined by the past” Because free will means a person can do any action without thinking of its reaction as it is assumed that the result of those action will be positive. Determinism, compatibilism and libertinism are deeply linked with the freedom of choice of human beings and raises question about their moral obligation towards themselves, others and universe. If we widely scrutinize, these ideas are foundation of human freedom and moral and social obligation of a human being. Actually determinism is a more compatible philosophy of human freedom as it take in to consideration the past deeds of people in this birth and previous. If we religiously look at this fact, in Hindu mythology and Buddhism we can find that, every creature take birth and die as a natural phenomenon. And his current deeds in his present life counts to future and past deeds in previous birth comes as his present events in life. References Honderich, Ted. "THE DETERMINISM AND FREEDOM PHILOSOPHY WEBSITE ." www.ucl.ac.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. . The Information Philosopher.Compatibilism." www.informationphilosopher.com. The information Philosopher , 2011. Web. 10 May 2013. . Mcclure, Max. "Compatibilism: Can free will and determinism co-exist?."http://news.sta nford.edu. S tanford News, 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 10 May 2013. . Salles, Ricardo. The Stoics On Determinism And Compatibilism. Hants: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2011. 16. Print. Wilmot, John. "The paradox and problems of libertinism : John Wilmot (2nd Earl of Rochester) and the marquis de Sade ." http://aldussprak.typepad.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. . Read More