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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
Of the three common positions in respect to the free will/determinism debate, compatibilism has been the least adequately argued perspective, but is the one that has the greatest potential for defining the underlying reasons behind man's actions and man's conceptual view of morality. This paper will present the argument that free will and determinism are not mutually exclusive and that it is possible to define man's actions relative to the concept of compatibilism. This 5 page paper provides an overview of the issue presented and relates it to the current literature. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: MH11_MHDeter2.rtf
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and mans conceptual view of morality. This paper will present the argument that free will and determinism are not mutually exclusive and that it is possible to define mans
actions relative to the concept of compatibilism. While hard determinists argue that all of mans actions have a determined cause, often linked to mans religious perspective (God determines mans
actions), libertarianism argues the every action of man is defined by his free will; that man has choice regardless of causative assessments. Traditionally, theorists have viewed determinism and free
will as being mutually exclusive: determinists argue that free will does not exist, while libertarians argue that determinism does not exist. Compatibilism is the conceptual view that man
is influenced both by causative factors and by free will, and acknowledges a kind of concert between determinism and free will. One of the most challenging arguments
against compatibilism comes from theorists who support hard determinism. Hard determinism is based on the acceptance that determinism and free will are not only incompatible, but cannot mutually exist.
The concept of hard determinism relates to the belief that if determinism is true, if mans actions occur on a continuum and if each action has an underlying cause,
then free will itself is not possible (Bass, 2002). This does not relate to the argument of the implausibility of free will and determinism existing at the same time,
but instead, creates a definitive view of the impossibility of these two rationales explaining mans actions. The other substantial argument presented against compatibilism is the concept of liberatarianism, which
states the opposite of hard determinism: that free will and determinism are incompatible, but that free will exists. If God determines mans actions, if man has no capacity
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