Hume- "Liberty & Necessity"

What is Compatibilism?

The view that free will and determinism can both be true.

What is the tension between Free Will and Determinism?

Determinism says all actions are caused; free will says we choose freely…which seems incompatible.

What is Determinism?

Actions are determined/ everything has a cause.

Ex: the marker fell to the ground because of gravity, and it fell in the first place because you dropped it, etc.

What is Libertarianism?

Humans have free will, so determinism is false.

ex: you want pink ice cream, but then you order blue ice cream. Why? You wanted pink? It doesn’t make sense.

What is indeterminism?

Some events are not caused and happen randomly.

ex: quantum physics.

What is Agent Causation?

People themselves cause actions, not just events.

What is Fatalism?

Outcomes are fixed no matter what actions we take.

Why do we think we have free will?

We experience choice and decision-making.

Why do we think determinism is true?

Science shows cause-and-effect patterns.

Why can’t we predict human behavior perfectly?

Human behavior has too many variables and is too complex.

Does determinism guarantee free will?

No, randomness does not equal control.

What is Hume’s view?

Compatibilism—freedom = acting on your desires without constraint.

Can we be morally responsible if determinism is true?

Yes, because actions reflect character.