Libertarian free will

Definition

Libertarian free will is the philosophical concept that posits individuals possess the ability to make choices that are not determined by prior causes, thus enabling genuine moral responsibility. This idea contrasts with determinism, suggesting that individuals can act independently of external influences and are accountable for their actions. In this view, divine action can interact with human decisions without compromising human freedom.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Libertarian free will emphasizes that individuals have the power to choose differently in identical situations, which is crucial for moral responsibility.
2. This perspective suggests that for divine action to be meaningful, it must operate within a framework that respects human freedom.
3. Libertarianism rejects both hard determinism and soft determinism, arguing that freedom requires a break from causal chains.
4. Advocates of libertarian free will often cite examples of spontaneous choices as evidence that humans can act independently of past influences.
5. The concept raises important questions about how divine intervention can coexist with human autonomy in moral and ethical discussions.

Review Questions

• How does libertarian free will provide a basis for moral responsibility?
  • Libertarian free will suggests that individuals have the capacity to make choices independent of deterministic factors. This ability to choose differently in the same circumstances underpins moral responsibility because it implies that individuals are accountable for their actions. If choices were solely determined by prior causes, then moral accountability would be undermined, as people would lack true agency in their decisions.
• Discuss how libertarian free will interacts with the concept of divine action.
  • Libertarian free will allows for the possibility of divine action by asserting that God can influence human choices without overriding their freedom. This means that divine intervention can inspire or guide individuals while still preserving their ability to make autonomous decisions. This interaction is significant because it presents a way to understand how a divine being can play a role in the world while respecting human agency and moral responsibility.
• Evaluate the implications of libertarian free will on our understanding of human autonomy and divine influence.
  • The implications of libertarian free will on human autonomy suggest that individuals are not merely puppets of fate or external forces; they are active agents capable of making independent choices. This view has profound implications for understanding divine influence, as it allows for a relationship where God can guide or support without coercing individuals. Such a framework enriches discussions about ethics, accountability, and the nature of existence, presenting a model where human freedom coexists with a purposeful divine presence in the world.

Related terms

Determinism: The belief that all events, including human actions, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will.

Moral Responsibility: The status of being accountable for one's actions, which is often linked to the ability to choose freely.

Compatibilism: The philosophical position that free will and determinism are not mutually exclusive and can coexist.