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Theories Of Free Will

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Theories Of Free Will
A very common question asked everyday by many and argued by psychologist and philosophers is: Do we have free will? In this essay I will discuss the beliefs of other theorist and analyze whether or not we have free will and if we should take responsibly for our actions. It’s an on going argument that existed for many years. Determinism is when a person’s behavior is considered to be affected by internal or external forces; in other words all behaviors is caused by preceding factors and is therefore predictable. Free will on the other hand is the idea that were are able to have some choice in how we act.
All though I defined determinism and free will above there are three theories of free will and determinism that should be made clear. Hard …show more content…
Determinism is more widely supported than free will. Behaviorists are highly determinists and they argue behavior is determined by ecological factors and that people usually replicate behaviors that are rewarded. On the contrary, if one believed in free will and not determinism, this would make them a libertarian. Soft determinists are those who believe free will and determinism can co-exist. It is when one has the ability to do something and is also free to do otherwise with no constraint; therefore saying one is free even if ones behavior is …show more content…
The best proof for the existence of free will is that we all observe it during our everyday moments and through different religious beliefs. The only basis for the denial comes from the arbitrary exclusion of introspection as a valid source of empirical knowledge when tied with one unpersuasive interpretation of the law of causality. Free will is perhaps the most distinctive attributed to humans when comparing it to life around us. The denial of our freedom leads to the denial of virtue and vice, individual responsibility, and the value of political freedom. In order for us to speak as we please and be held responsible for our actions free will have to be said to be in of existence. And ultimately, this denial of free will lead to the dehumanization of
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