Who are the most notable philosophers for each concept, and where do you stand?
2006-07-10 10:12:06 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You don't believe either?
Can you elaborate?
Doesn't it have to be one or the other?
2006-07-10 10:19:00 · update #1
Determinism
The view that every event has a cause and that everything in the universe is absolutely dependent on and governed by causal laws. Since determinists believe that all events, including human actions, are predetermined, determinism is typically thought to be incompatible with free will.
Freewill
The theory that human beings have freedom of choice or self-determination; that is, that given a situation, a person could have done other than what he did.
Naturalistic determinists, such as Thomas Hobbes and B F Skinner, argue that man's behavior can be fully explained in terms of natural causes. Theistic determinists, such as Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards, trace man's actions back to God's controlling hand.
NL Geisler, CS Lewis and Thomas Aquinas are advocates of self determinism - a type of free will
It is my belief we all have choices in our actions, but there are certain inate characteristics in all of us that make us bound to make certain choices and follow certain paths.
People like to have texts and bibles to back up their beliefs. I prefer to trust instinct and what I know to be true.
2006-07-10 10:29:38 · answer #1 · answered by waggy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a problem with the ideal that things are determined. I think we inherently have choices to make in life within our birth conditions, abilities, upbringing, and motivation. It may seem that the biggest factor is upbringing. We become our parents manefestation in this world. If our parents were ambitious and active it's likely we will be as well because of behavioral modeling.
I'd likely look at your personality theories College text and review Alfred Adler, and Erick Erickson.
2006-07-10 10:19:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will. While we may be limited in the choices we have available to make, they are none the less our choices and we make them. At any point in history choices might have been different and thus history follow another course. Who is to say that is not possible. Determinism, or predestination, does not allow for chaos which I believe is inherent in all that occurs.
2006-07-10 10:39:49 · answer #3 · answered by Who cares 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both are flawed concepts as they both lead to absurdities and contradictions.
There are many philosophers who can be put in either camp. I probably should not take away your fun in finding them.
2006-07-10 17:27:06 · answer #4 · answered by Alan Turing 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think B.F. Skinner writes well about determinism and behaviorism in "Beyond Freedom and Dignity". I am a hard determinist.
2006-07-10 10:20:54 · answer #5 · answered by rlw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
determinism: Newton
free-will: the Bible
I don't believe in either.
2006-07-10 10:15:56 · answer #6 · answered by -.- 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋