Freedom - Determinism Theories

1
Freedom - Determinism Theories

• Determinism all human actions are caused
• Hard Determinism behavior is caused by either
  unconscious desires and fears (Freud) or by
  environment and heredity (Skinner). Freedom is an
  illusion, and people are not responsible for
  their actionsthough they can be held responsible
  for social purposes
• Objections how we can challenge or change our
  attitudes if we are determined? Why not explain
  behavior with reasons, not causes?

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Freedom - Determinism Theories

• Libertarianism our free choices define our
  selves this is what we experience, and is what
  our theory should explain (Sartre)
• Objection how can we be both cause effect?
• Freedom as an Assumption Morality requires that
  we think of ourselves as free. As objects in the
  world, we are determined but as conscious,
  choosing beings, we are free (Kant)

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Freedom - Determinism Theories

• Existentialism freedom self-consciousness
  consist in our ability to conceive that which is
  notand that could not be caused by what is
• The proper way to describe human actions is in
  terms of reasons, not causes
• Objection Wanting to believe in freedom does not
  make it true besides, even that belief itself is
  determined