Determinism Versus Libertarianism - Coursework Example

Determinism vs. Libertarianism Free will is defined as the ability of the human mind to have control over their actions and decisions. This question has been answered by philosophy, science and religion. The importance of the relationship between freedom and cause are important factors which enable the definition of free will. Philosophy is divided over whether events are determined and whether freedom can coexist with it. This paper analyzes the concept of free will by analyzing the arguments of determinism and libertarianism on free will. Determinism believes in a broad definition of meanings for free will. One form of determinism is called casual determinism which advances the theory that free will is based on physical laws and the events of the past and present. Logical determinism emphasizes that human plans and schemes are either true or false. Free will presents a problem is this case as whether a human beings have freedom over their choices. This is because any human plan or scheme would either be true or false in the present and would be problematic for their future plans. Theological determinism believes that God determines the actions of human beings. A human being cannot have freedom over his actions if it is already determined by God. Finally there is biological determinism which gives the idea that our actions and behavior are fixed by our genetic predisposition. Libertarianism is a branch of metaphysics which proclaims the existence of free will. Further according to this belief, a human being can take a multiple number of actions which would determine his future. It is divided into supernatural and scientific theories (Clarke, 93). The Big Bang theory which shows that the universe is expanding continuously provides credibility to the philosophy of Determinism. The argument is that the phenomenon of big bang would unleash every action using the system of cause and effect. Determinism defines events as being a chain of cause and effect. This could mean that human beings have no free choice because each event is caused by an agent and its effect would also be determined by that cause. Libertarianism argues that we have free choices which somehow disprove determinism. If determinism is true than no person can he held accountable for their actions. However if the libertarian position is correct than this would undermine the foundation of science. Determinists would argue that cause and effect also is the influence of the environment with a person. Determinism is the basis of science as every event is predictable and having a cause. Free will is the ability of humans to act without any external pressure and voluntarily. Libertarian point of view states that humans can make free choices independent of external forces. Human beings have a conscious which allows them control over their motivation and action. People are always free to make choices despite the presence of many external factors. The ability of human beings to make goals is a capacity which gives them the ability to make infinite goals. Soft determinism is a theory which attempts to bring free will within determinism. This theory states that an individual is free and the environment is determined. However the problem with this theory is that it cannot explain predictability and the complicated environment factors. Soft determinists argue that an action can only be free if there is no cause. The difference is between a free action and a restricted action. Hard determinism rejects the concept of free will and believes that science is the foundation of theory. It interprets future events based on the scientific principle of cause and effect (Clarke, 93). Events therefore have probabilities assigned to them according to hard determinism. The notion of free will is considered to be confusing because a random fact about the world. Hard determinism and soft determinism are differentiated by the matter of personal choice. Under soft determinism, a person can perform an action or not perform it. Hard determinism says that there is no choice for a person when they perform actions. Libertarianism argues that the decisions of human beings are not caused. Our desires are determined by environment, genes and decisions. They argue that no one accountable for anything if they could have done otherwise. This theory makes moral choices of human beings as being the cause of accidents. Libertarianism thus attempts to differentiate between decisions and desires. Some critics of the theory argue that it destroys moral responsibility since if decisions are accidents and not connected with our desires, than this would result in no responsibility for actions (Kane, 63). Supernatural libertarianism believes that human actions and decisions are not affected by cause and effect. Natural libertarianism believes that the universe does not have separate dualistic self. The brain performs its total activity using the self. This philosophy believes that human beings have the power to choose and perform actions without the influence of external factors. Further there are more than one outcome for any situation. The outcome of any situation according to this philosophy is therefore determined by human actions. Humans are morally responsible which requires free will. Determinists claim that human beings cannot make multiple choices for the future since their future course of action is determined by specific set of prior factors. Thus the environment, society, genes and other factors cause human beings to make choices. It also leads to the feeling that human beings have no choice over their actions simply because they are guided by a specific set of prior factors. The classic reply to this argument has been that free will involves an entity or deity that is not ruled by the forces of cause and effect. Religion therefore argues that God plays this role by allowing human beings to make choices. Another philosopher argued that mind and body exist on different planes which can allow human beings to escape the rules of cause and effect. Quantum physics also provides a possibility of free choice. The problem with this theory is that if any human being makes a choice independent from any external factors than this must be something which he does in random. Quantum physics says that the paths of objects can only be predicted if there is a complete quantum description of particles. Light fired from an apparatus arrives at separated points which mean that no one can predict the resulting interference pattern. Some scientists argue that hidden factors determine the course of the electrons. The phenomenon of radioactivity poses a problem for determinism. Uranium has a large number of atoms which are identical. However every twelve thousand times, an atom decays gives an alpha particle. According to determinism, each atom would have an internal mechanism which would cause the atom to decay at an exact time. Further the laws of physics would know the nature of the clocks. Alpha radiation can induce cancer in the molecules of a human being. If events are determined by randomness or chance then history is not determined from the dawn of time. Determinism also faces other arguments against it because it uses a Newtonian conception of casual laws. Modern scientific laws recognize that any event is possible other than the predicted outcome. However they argue that the likelihood of the predicted outcomes is more likely to occur. Determinism does take into account unpredictable events. Further as human beings we do not have control of what was going on before our births. Therefore the results of our actions are not up to us. Sometimes we human beings resist our passions which would seem to imply that we are acting freely which is against the theory of determinism (Suppes, 13). Some moral acts like obligation, responsibility, merit and justice are universally present in the minds of human beings. This proves that at times, human beings are capable of determining the course of their action. An example is that of a person who commits a crime, a libertarian would mean that the person had the power not to perform the act. This means he had a measure of choice in performing the crime. Another argument against determinism is that our consciousness proves the existence of free will. Human beings have freedom when they perform certain actions. Libertarians claim that human beings are aware of the free choices they make. Further human beings can make the right choice of factors which would influence their decisions. Libertarians claim that free will ensures that our morality is responsible. Otherwise the policy of praising some and condemning another has no basis. The absence of free will makes rationalism an empty theory. Determinists claim that human actions are affected by social and environmental forces. However libertarians while entertaining the notion of influence reject this theory that it would be in every case. Innovation is rebellion against old orders. Libertarians argue that free will allows the generation of new events which can change the progress of the world. Free will belongs to human beings because they can be held accountable for the outcome of their choices. Determinism only provides one option to human beings. They also point out that free will can help generate moral responsibility because a human being will be held responsible for the outcome of his actions. Libertarians however have to explain the concept of free will and how it can change the world events. Determinists claim that decision making is simply a belief of human beings believing that they are free and conscious of their actions. They also believe that there is no type of freedom which is compatible with determinism. They also argue that moral condemnation can be rejected in favor of a non judgmental behavior. Determinism however faces problems of how to deal with crime and punishment (Ringen, 43). Libertarians argue that free will allows human beings to be attracted by what is good. Evil and misery is something which human beings would not desire. The good is present in many forms which gives human beings a wide variety of actions to choose from. They also insist that free will does not mean the absence of external factors as motivating the actions of human beings. The habits, character, motives and reflex actions all determine the actions of human beings. The brain decides between right and wrong which leads to awareness in human beings to choose what the appropriate course of action is. Free will has been explained by philosophy, science and religion. Determinism is a philosophy which believes that there is no free will. They believe that the outcome of events is determined by cause and effect. It has a scientific foundation. Determinism also seems to imply that there is only one future based upon a prior set of events. They reject the claim that there can be multiple futures. Environment, society, genes and other factors cause human beings to make choices. Libertarianism however believes that free will is necessary for humanity. Libertarianism argues that the decisions of human beings are not caused. Our desires are determined by environment, genes and decisions. They argue that no one accountable for anything if they could have done otherwise. This theory makes moral choices of human beings as being the cause of accidents. Libertarianism thus attempts to differentiate between decisions and desires. However libertarians have to explain how free will can change world events. Determinists claim that decision making is simply a belief of human beings believing that they are free and conscious of their actions. They also believe that there is no type of freedom which is compatible with determinism. The debate over free will and determinism will continue as both philosophies have good arguments to support their theories. However both these philosophies also have arguments which refute each other. The question of free will is a very old debate in which various philosophical positions have been taken. Determinism and Libertarianism are two philosophies which try to explain the concept of free will. The principle of free will has many religious and scientific implications. Works Cited: Randolph Clarke Libertarian Accounts of Free Will. Oxford University Press: New York, 2003. Robert Kane The Significance of Free Will. Oxford University Press: New York, 1998. Ringen, J. D. (1993). Adaptation, teleology, and selection by consequences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Suppes, P., 1993, “The Transcendental Character of Determinism,” Midwest Studies in Philosophy, 18: Read More