Free Will & Determinism

Free Will & Determinism

1. Hard Determinism

   • John Locke
   • The theory of Universal Causation maintains that everything in the universe (including human action) has a cause which precedes it
   • Ted Honderich
     • Honderich claims that everything is determined, both internally and externally. He denies that we have any choice, and therefore disagrees that we have any moral responsibility.

2. Libertarianism

3. Soft Determinsim/compatibalsim

   • Hume
     • all things are necessary
     • dismisses the idea that some things are uncaused or happen as the result of mere chance
     • any sense of moral blame can only come if something we do is the result of our characte
   • A compatibilist, who believes that determinism and free will are compatible, would draw a distinction between actions caused or determined by our personalities ('free' actions) and actions with external causes (where we are 'co-erced')
   • Compatibilism, unlike hard determinism, allows for moral responsibility.