The discussion about the Free Will raises mixed opinions. Some share the belief that Free Will must exist, because imagining a world where we do not have the liberty to choose what we ought to do, does not seem right. Hard determinists, however, fully deny the existence of the Free Will and at the same time, ignore the notion of moral responsibility. The opposition to hard determinism is created by the Libertarians. Their opinion is that science is not able to talk about the human mind. For they say that science is trying to analyze humans as if they were machines, which is not possible. Humans have a Free Will, even without science being able to justify it.
The goal of my paper will be to show if we can be satisfied with the definitions of free will given so far. For this, I will briefly explain the main point of view of the ones who defend the idea of the free will. How does free will exist and how do we know that we are acting freely? Mentioning all the issues that raise when talking about the free will, would go beyond the scope of the discussion, this is why I will mainly focus on the idea of events caused by luck. Since to me, this is a point that neither libertarianism nor compatibilism seems to consider, I will base my main argumentation on how luck is not mentioned in their speeches.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Free Will explained.
- Free Will defenders..
- Against Free Will..
- Against compatibilism.
- Against libertarianism..
- Further argumentation.
- Conclusion........
- References.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the concept of free will, investigating whether existing definitions are satisfactory. It will delve into the perspectives of both defenders and critics of free will, examining arguments for and against the existence of free will. The paper will focus on the role of luck and its implication for free will, an area not sufficiently addressed by existing theories.
- Definitions and interpretations of free will
- Theories supporting free will: libertarianism and compatibilism
- Challenges to free will: the impact of luck and external influences
- The role of science and its limitations in understanding human behavior
- Moral responsibility in the context of free will
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the ongoing debate surrounding free will, highlighting the opposing perspectives of hard determinists and libertarians. It outlines the paper's goal of evaluating existing definitions of free will and its focus on the role of luck in this debate.
- Free will explained: This chapter delves into the definition of "free will" by examining the meanings of "free" and "will" as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary. It explores how these definitions relate to the idea of agents intentionally choosing actions and the concept of alternative possibilities. The chapter further introduces the concept of agent causation, emphasizing the idea that individuals are the cause of their actions.
- Free Will defenders: This chapter examines the perspectives of two main groups defending free will: libertarians and compatibilists. Libertarians argue that science cannot fully explain human behavior, as humans possess a soul that is not reducible to physical phenomena. Compatibilists argue that free will and determinism are compatible, emphasizing that a free action is one that is caused in the right way.
- Against Free Will: This chapter begins the critique of free will, focusing on challenges to compatibilism. It argues that external influences, such as manipulation of the brain or being forced to act, can undermine the notion of free will even if an action is motivated by one's own desires.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on key concepts related to free will, including determinism, libertarianism, compatibilism, agent causation, luck, and moral responsibility. It examines the interplay of scientific perspectives and philosophical arguments surrounding human agency and the freedom to choose.
- Quote paper
- Sabrina Fiel Abade (Author), 2021, Free Will, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1168144
