The free will debate is the argument between libertarians and determinists on the ultimate causes of human behavior. Libertarianism is based on a person’s independent decisions. It means that their futures are not previously determined for them. It is based off of the genuine, unpressured decisions that we make. However, libertarians also believe that some actions can be caused by external events. On the other hand, hard determinism is the impression that everything happens due to a cause and everything that will happen to you is previously determined. Hard determinists believe that every event is the outcome of a previous event, meaning the occurrence of this event was already determined. If all actions and events are determined by previous actions then no actions can be made freely.
After learning more about both sides of the debate, I came to the conclusion that libertarianism is the more plausible of the two. I believe that individuals make many conscious choices every day of their lives, but I also think that some events are beyond our control.
Libertarianism explains human behavior better than determinism; thus having more explanatory breadth. Libertarians are aware that external causes can affect their decisions and actions. They are able to act in terms of their own desires instead of believing that everything that happens to them is predetermined. The theory of hard determinism does not address morals. Without free will, there would be no morals. People make a lot of their decisions based on what is right and what is wrong.
Libertarianism explains human behavior better than determinism; thus having more explanatory breadth. Libertarians are aware that external causes can affect their decisions and actions. They are able to act in terms of their own desires instead of believing that everything that happens to them is predetermined. The theory of hard determinism does not address morals. Without free will, there would be no morals. People make a lot of their decisions based on what is right and what is wrong.
In regards to explanatory depth, I believe that hard determinism outweighs libertarianism. Hard determinist’s explain the causes of actions and events in greater detail than libertarians do. They explain the reasons for peoples’ actions a lot clearer and more in depth than libertarians. Libertarians fail to give reasons as to why humans perform certain actions. They are unable to describe why particular events happen and their purpose.
Hard determinism holds more simplicity than libertarianism. Libertarianism has more parts and assumptions than hard determinism does. Hard determinism has only one explanation for peoples’ actions and that is that external causes determine the events that will happen in our lives. Libertarians believe that most of our events happen because of the conscious and free choices that we make, but they also believe in external causes.
Finally, in regards to conservatism, I believe that libertarianism beats out hard determinism. It is a lot more common today for people to believe that we make our own decisions. Humans feel that by having a say in their own future, they have a sense of purpose in their lives. They like to know that they are in control of their own actions and that these actions have a sense of purpose knowing that they have a say in their own future
1. Libertarianism and hard determinism are the most plausible explanations of the ultimate causes of human behavior.
2. Libertarianism has much more explanatory breadth and conservatism, whereas hard determinism has a little more explanatory breadth and simplicity.
3. Therefore, Libertarianism is the best explanation of the ultimate causes of human behavior.
Hard determinism holds more simplicity than libertarianism. Libertarianism has more parts and assumptions than hard determinism does. Hard determinism has only one explanation for peoples’ actions and that is that external causes determine the events that will happen in our lives. Libertarians believe that most of our events happen because of the conscious and free choices that we make, but they also believe in external causes.
Finally, in regards to conservatism, I believe that libertarianism beats out hard determinism. It is a lot more common today for people to believe that we make our own decisions. Humans feel that by having a say in their own future, they have a sense of purpose in their lives. They like to know that they are in control of their own actions and that these actions have a sense of purpose knowing that they have a say in their own future
1. Libertarianism and hard determinism are the most plausible explanations of the ultimate causes of human behavior.
2. Libertarianism has much more explanatory breadth and conservatism, whereas hard determinism has a little more explanatory breadth and simplicity.
3. Therefore, Libertarianism is the best explanation of the ultimate causes of human behavior.
Are you sure that hard determinism has more simplicity than libertarianism? People would argue to differ because the theory of hard determinism states that we have no free will and are decisions are based off of physical and mental events so wouldn't it be harder to prove this theory because you don't know whether its the physical or mental state that is effecting the individual. Or you wont know exactly what mental events the individual is going though.
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