Philosophy of Free Will and Determinism

The belief that free will and determinism cannot coexist. If all actions are predetermined, then free will is an illusion.

The idea that free will and determinism can coexist. Actions can be considered free if they align with internal desires, even if those desires are determined by past events.

This view argues that determinism is true and incompatible with free will. Free will does not exist, and all actions are predetermined.

Also known as Compatibilism, soft determinism suggests that humans have free will even in a determined world. Freedom requires acting according to one's desires without external coercion.

Libertarians believe that free will is real and incompatible with determinism. Our choices arise from independent agent causation, not predetermined events.

Augustine proposed a hierarchy of goods, with higher goods (spiritual well-being) outweighing lower goods (material possessions). God's grace is crucial for the human will to align with these higher goods and achieve true freedom.

True happiness is found in pursuit of virtue and wisdom. Freedom is the capacity to seek and achieve the highest good, which aligns with divine will.

Boethius argued that God's timeless knowledge does not limit human free will. God foresees events as they happen, without causing them to occur.

The capacity to choose or reject ideas and actions.

The faculty that perceives and understands ideas.

The intellect presents ideas to the will, which then affirms or denies them, leading to action or belief.

Errors occur when the will extends beyond the bounds of clear and distinct perceptions provided by the intellect.

Knowledge comes from sensory experiences and the mind is shaped by external stimuli.

Everything in the universe, including human thought and action, can be explained in terms of matter and motion.

Basic human motivations like desire (appetite), dislike (aversion), love, and hate drive actions.

All human actions are motivated by self-interest and desire to maximize personal benefit.

Happiness is the continuous fulfillment of desires and avoidance of pain.

The state of nature is characterized by competition, distrust, and the desire for power, leading to conflict.

The state of nature was a period of primitive innocence where humans were free, equal, and guided by self-preservation (amour de soi-même) and compassion (the passions).

Humans developed self-consciousness and awareness of time, leading to reflection and planning, resulting in societal progress and its complexities.

Civilization and society corrupt natural human goodness by fostering inequality, dependency, and unhealthy self-love (amour propre).

Locke believed in a natural law governing human behavior, based on reason and the inherent rights to life, liberty, and property.

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Freedom is acting according to natural law and reason, while licence is acting without regard for others' rights and without restraint.

Aquinas distinguishes between natural judgment, which is immediate and instinctive, and rational judgment, which involves deliberation and reasoned decision-making based on higher intellectual faculties.

Descartes argues that God is not responsible for our errors because He provides clear and distinct ideas. Errors arise from the misuse of our free will, meaning we choose to apply ideas incorrectly or make judgments based on incomplete information.

Deliberation is the mental process of weighing different motivations and possible outcomes before making a decision. It involves carefully considering the pros and cons, and ultimately choosing the course of action that best aligns with our values and goals.

Burke criticized Rousseau's idealization of the state of nature, arguing that tradition, social institutions, and gradual change are essential for stable and ordered societies. He believed rapid revolutionary change is dangerous and leads to chaos.

This refers to the mental activity of comparing reasons and motivations before making a choice. It involves analyzing the various potential outcomes, considering the long-term consequences, and ultimately deciding on a course of action.

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A hypothetical intellect that, if it knew the exact position and velocity of every particle in the universe, could perfectly predict the future. This illustrates a deterministic view of the universe, where every event is predetermined.

Freud proposed that our mind is composed of three interacting parts: the id, driven by instinctual desires and seeking immediate pleasure; the ego, the rational and mediating self; and the superego, representing internalized moral standards and values.

The pleasure principle, associated with the id, seeks instant gratification to satisfy basic desires. The reality principle, associated with the ego, understands that delaying immediate gratification can lead to better outcomes.

According to Hume, a voluntary act is one that originates from an individual's own desires and motivations, molded by their experiences and perceptions. It doesn't imply free will but rather reflects a cause-and-effect chain rooted in internal drives.

Augustine's concept of original sin argues that human nature is flawed and inclined towards sin, driven by disordered desires (concupiscence). To overcome this, individuals need God's grace, a divine intervention that helps them resist sin and achieve spiritual salvation.