Compatibilists
Compatibilists are also
fondly known as Soft Determinists.
Hume (Mid 18th
century Philosopher) believed that an action is free if the agent could have done otherwise, had the agent wanted to. But this means that the agents actions
are caused by the agents beliefs and values.
So basically, that
described action is free and caused.
In a philosophy class
the argument of combatibilism looks like
this
this
F (Free will)
D (Determinism)
________________
F and D are
compatible.
There are two important
objections to combatibilism, Firstly the nature of compulsive behaviors such as
kleptomainia. Compulsive behavior such as this is an obsession that they
believe is their desire. The problem here being is that they (by themselves)
probably could not have done otherwise. I say by themselves simply because of
the fact that I’m sure there is therapy for these kinds of behaviors, however
it’s so heavily assisted, that you would say without them they would be the
same.
And secondly, Locke’s
locked room.
John Locke is a 17th
Century philosopher, proposed this thought experiment.
A man goes into a room
to talk to his friend, on his own accord. This would be considered a free
action, however unbeknownst to him, the door has been locked behind him. He
thinks he is free, staying in there is his free choice, but is he free?
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