Siteadmin, Check users, nsTeam1RO, nsTeam1RW, nsTeam1_talkRO, nsTeam1_talkRW, oversight, Administrators
30,650
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + + + + + Line 10:
Line 14: + + +
quotation + ref
'''Free will''' is the concept that it is possible to make choices by an act of will based on independent thought. This would appear to be impossible in a solely naturalistic system in which biochemical processes obey natural laws, not will.
'''Free will''' is the concept that it is possible to make choices by an act of will based on independent thought.
*... free will can be defined as the unique ability of persons to exercise control over their conduct in a manner necessary for moral responsibility<ref>[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/compatibilism/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy] </ref>
This would appear to be impossible in a solely naturalistic system in which biochemical processes obey natural laws, not will.
[[Incompatibilism]] views free will as being in conflict with the doctrine of [[determinism]], while [[Compatibilism]] sees no conflict between the two.
[[Incompatibilism]] views free will as being in conflict with the doctrine of [[determinism]], while [[Compatibilism]] sees no conflict between the two.
Decisions are just like any other event in that they have causes. The relationship between a reason and a decision is broadly similar to that between a cause and an effect; if an effect lacks a cause, it must necessarily be [[random]], and the same is true of a decision. Every element of the thought process that goes into making a choice must be either caused by external stimuli (the reasons for deciding one way or the other) or completely random. We could not be considered moral beings if our actions were random and therefore responsibility can fall only on determined individuals. Hume considered free will to be the freedom to do as one chooses (freedom of action), and therefore moral blame falls upon those who have acted immorally when they were at liberty to act otherwise.
Decisions are just like any other event in that they have causes. The relationship between a reason and a decision is broadly similar to that between a cause and an effect; if an effect lacks a cause, it must necessarily be [[random]], and the same is true of a decision. Every element of the thought process that goes into making a choice must be either caused by external stimuli (the reasons for deciding one way or the other) or completely random. We could not be considered moral beings if our actions were random and therefore responsibility can fall only on determined individuals. Hume considered free will to be the freedom to do as one chooses (freedom of action), and therefore moral blame falls upon those who have acted immorally when they were at liberty to act otherwise.
==Notes==
<references />
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Christian Theology]]
[[Category:Christian Theology]]