Compatibilist ways of Free Will

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In the world of Philosophy, there is a reoccurring argument that takes several sides: Can we be free even if the future is determined by the past? The question of freedom does affect ones way of life, which philosophers help reconstruct the there premises that show the problem of free will.
The problem of free will clearly states:
1. Human beings have free will. – Hard Determinist rejects.
2. The world is deterministic. – Libertarians reject.
3. Free will is incompatible with determinism. – Compatibilist rejects.

What is believed more plausible is to reject premise number three; Free will is incompatible with determinism. According to Rauhut, “The basic tenant of compatibilism is that we are free as long as we do not encounter forces that prevent us from doing what we want to do; doesn’t matter that our actions are determined form the past” (pg 89). To understand this reasoning, there are two scenarios to keep in mind. The first scenario states that this prisoner is starving on the factor that he/she is not provided nutrition. The second scenario states that this prisoner is starving on the factor that he does not have the desire to eat, although he/she is provided with nutrition. Rejecting the third premises explains the ways of a compatibilist, which is more prefered. The first scenario does not show compatibilism because there is an outside force that is preventing the prisoner from receiving nutrition. If there are several roads that were written for the prisoner, and he/she is forced to go down the road prison is providing, without being able to make any choices that come his/her way. The second premises, however, shows compatibilism because it shows that the prisoner is choosing to receive nutrition or not. This shows t...

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...ink a can of soda. This statement shows that you had the desire to drink the soda with no outside source forcing you to drink that soda. Now to criticize, what if there was a computer chip that was implanted in your brain, that every time you feel thirsty, that you must fulfill this desire by grabbing the can of soda in the refrigerator. Are you still fulfilling your desire, or is an outside force forcing you to drink the can of soda? Currently, you do not know that there is a computer chip implanted inside your brain, but you still fulfill the desire of thirst by drinking a can of soda without anyone preventing you from doing so. As long as you have the desire to drink the can of soda to quench your thirst, you are fulfilling the compatibilist idea of free will.

Works Cited

Rauhut, N. C. (2004). Ultimate questions: thinking about philosophy. New York: Longman.

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