Free Will vs Determinism Analysis

The belief that all events, including human actions, are predetermined and inevitable, leaving no room for free will.

A philosophical stance that challenges hard determinism by asserting that humans have genuine free will and can make choices independent of any pre-determined factors.

The idea that actions are not controlled by any cause, implying they are random and unpredictable.

A hypothetical scenario where an action occurs without any prior cause, highlighting the potential absurdity of uncaused action.

The belief that free will is incompatible with determinism. If all events are predetermined, then there is no room for genuine free will.

The belief that free will and determinism are compatible. It argues that we can have free will even if events are predetermined.

A thought experiment used to challenge the notion of hard determinism. The experiment involves deliberately harming someone and then attempting to convince them that they shouldn't blame you because you were predetermined to act that way.

The idea that human behavior is fundamentally different from the behavior of non-human systems. This difference arises because humans possess unique qualities, such as consciousness or free will.

A past event that directly influences a later event, making it happen.

The idea that every event is predetermined and unavoidable, based on prior causes.

The argument that if all our actions are caused by prior events, including events before our birth, we cannot be held responsible for our choices.

The idea that we have the ability to make choices and are responsible for the consequences of those choices.

The physical laws governing the movement of particles, which, according to determinism, could potentially predict all future actions.

The philosophical idea that our actions are determined by factors beyond our control, such as our genes, upbringing, and past experiences.

The idea that we can be held accountable for our actions and judged for their moral implications.

The question of whether we can be blamed for our actions if they were predetermined by events outside our control.

The idea that an individual's choices are not fully determined by external factors, but instead are influenced by a special kind of causation that originates from the individual's own will or agency.

The idea that choices or events are determined by random, unpredictable factors.

A thought experiment that explores the implications of free will by considering the possibility of creating identical copies of an individual and observing their choices in identical situations.

The idea that quantum mechanics, which governs the behavior of particles at the atomic level, could provide a foundation for free will by introducing randomness into decision-making processes.

The belief that free will is not compatible with the laws of physics, particularly those of quantum mechanics.

The idea that even if quantum mechanics introduces randomness into the decision-making process, it does not necessarily guarantee free will.

An action is considered free if it is caused in the 'right' way, meaning it is caused by the individual's own beliefs and desires.

A philosophical stance that claims that free will and determinism are compatible. It accepts that all events, including our choices, are caused by previous events, but argues that we are still free to make choices as long as those choices are caused by our own beliefs and desires.

A philosophical viewpoint that suggests that we do have free will, and that our choices are not determined by any prior events. This position challenges the concept of determinism.

The state of being influenced or controlled by another person's beliefs and desires, often through hypnosis or manipulation.

The concept that a definition is flawed because it uses the term being defined within its own definition, creating a circular argument.

A philosophical position that argues that an action is free only if it is caused by the person's freely chosen beliefs and desires, not by beliefs and desires that were imposed on them.

A philosophical problem that arises in soft determinism. It questions how an action can be considered free if it is determined by events that occurred before the individual was born.

An action performed by a person based on their own beliefs and desires, without being forced or compelled by another person.

A situation where someone's beliefs and desires are influenced by another person to the point where they lose their freedom of choice.

The inherent interconnectedness of individuals, meaning that our beliefs and desires are influenced by our interactions with others.

The difficulty in defining 'free action' arises from the fact that all our desires and beliefs are ultimately influenced by our past experiences, including interactions with others.

A first-order desire is a desire to do something, while a second-order desire is a desire to have a particular first-order desire.

Actions are considered free if they are caused by the person's beliefs and desires, and these desires are aligned with their overall values and 'who they are'. This means that their second-order desires (desires about their desires) influence their actions.

Even if a person's actions are caused by their beliefs and desires, they may not be considered free if the desires are not aligned with who they are, or if they repeatedly fail to control their desires.

The question of whether we can justly blame someone for their actions if their choices were ultimately determined by factors outside their control.

The argument that if all our actions are caused by prior events, even those before our birth, then we cannot be truly responsible for our choices.