Philosophy

Philosophy Study Guide

● Libertarian: Human freedom exists because we can genuinely make our choices and exercise our free will. A philosophical examination of human freedom attempts to define and explain how and why we make decisions. Are we truly free to choose a course of action or be subjected to some larger factor at play that pre-decides what we do and how we do it? If we operate under the belief that human behavior is entirely dependent on external forces, such as past psychological trauma or social dynamics, then we cannot ever truly be free to make our choices. On the other hand, personal freedom is possible if we believe we are capable of making our decisions and are responsible for the outcomes of our decisions. Your beliefs about the whether or not personal freedom exists will influence your ability to evolve and grow as a person, maintain a consistent moral outlook, be able to relate to particular traditions, and actively participate in a just and fair society. 5.3 Determinism Determinism is the philosophical idea that human actions are unavoidable and a direct result of every prior decision that was made. "There are many determinisms, depending on what pre-conditions are considered to be determinative of an event or action." Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have launched from the varying, and sometimes similar, motives and considerations. We can test some forms of determinism through observation of the laws of physics. In philosophy, the view of human freedom is based on the scientific model of the physical universe. Many determinists argue that there cannot be true freedom because none of the choices we make are free or actions are dependent on or caused by factors beyond our control. A determinist will view internal and external constraints as an inhibitor to humans freely choosing their actions. External constraints are those imposed by your environment and your circumstances, while internal constraints involve limitations to autonomy that we impose on ourselves. Most people believe they have some degree of personal freedom: choosing to improve yourself, to holding people morally responsible and educating them to be more enlightened, seeking to achieve spiritual transformation and enlightenment, working to create a better world, raising children to be thoughtful individuals who accept responsibility, and holding wrongdoers responsible. 5.4 The System of Nature The French philosopher D’Holbach presented one of the most compelling defenses of determinism and critics called it “The Atheist’s Bible.” The keystone of his view is that we are inextricably connected to a universal nature and are subject to the necessary and immutable laws that nature imposes on all the beings she contains. Humans are a part of the fabric of the universe, and its assumed that all other dimensions of the universe (both physical and biological) are also subject to causal laws. Our will, along with the other mental states of consciousness such as motivation, reflection, and

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