Metaphysics Quotes

Question 1) Explain the differences between the view on free will and moral responsibility as held by Baron d’Holbach, John Locke, and David Hume.

Baron d’Holbach, John Locke, and David Hume all develop different views about the relationship between causation, free will, and moral responsibility. Unlike Locke and Hume, d’Holbach argues that free will is an illusion because all human actions are determined by prior causes and natural laws. According to his hard determinist position, humans are like machines governed by necessity, meaning moral responsibility is difficult to justify because individuals cannot truly choose otherwise. This is reflected in his claim that ‘man is but a puppet in the hands of necessity.’

In contrast, John Locke argues that humans possess genuine free will because they are capable of rational reflection and deliberate choice. Though people are influenced by external factors, Locke believes individuals and free when they are not under coercion and can act according to reason. As a result, moral responsibility is possible because people have the capacity to direct their own actions. Locke describes free-will as ‘power or ability to prefer of choose.’

David Hume offers a compatibilist position that attempts to reconcile causation and freedom. Hume accepts that human behaviour is shaped by causal forces, but argues that freedom still exists when actions arise from a person’s internal desires and character rather than external constraint. He therefore maintains that moral responsibility remains possible because actions can still reflect a person’s intentions and values. Hume describes liberty as freedom ‘when opposed to necessity, not to constraint.’

Q1) Locke describes free will as __

‘a power or ability to prefer or choose.’

Q1) D’holbach- this is reflected in his claim that ___

‘man is but a puppet in the hands of necessity.’

Question 2) Choose 1 philosopher that you align most closely with an interpret a quote that expresses theri position. David Hume (paragraph) 2nd quote- free will is

‘By liberty, then, we can only mean a power of acting or not acting according to the determinations of the will’

This quote reflects Hume’s belief that freedom exists when actions follow internal desires, and that freedom doesn’t require absence of causation. He argues that though all events have prior causes, and people are influenced by their upbringing, environment, and experiences, they are still free when actions arise from internal desires and character. This quote therefore connects to Hume’s broader view that it is possible to have moral responsibility because individuals, as individuals have the capacity to choose between different possible actions through internal motivations.

This interpretation depends on Hume’s philosophical assumption that human beings possess agency, when actions arise from internal desires and character, as opposed to external constraint. He attempts to reconcile causation and freedom through a compatiblist approach, arguing that freedom and determinism coexist.

Question 3) Use the Hegelian dialectic to develop your own view of free will

Thesis- d’Holbach. Baron d’Holbach argues that all actions are determined by prior causes such as biology, environment, and physical laws. According to his hard determinist position, humans are no freer than objects in nature because every decision is the inevitable result of earlier events. This means genuine free will does not exist and moral responsibility becomes difficult to justify.

Antithesis- Locke. John Locke challenges this view by arguing that humans possess free will because they’re capable of rational thought and deliberate choice. Lock believes people are morally responsible when they act according to reason and are not being externally coerced. For Locke, freedom is connected to humanity’s ability to reflect, evaluate options and direct actions intentionally.

Synthesis: Both philosophers identify important aspects of human behaviour. D’Holbach correctly recognises that people are deeply shaped by causes beyond their control, including upbringing, social conditions and biology. However, Locke more effectively explains the human experience of agency, reflection, and moral accountability. A stronger synthesis can be found in compatibilist positions, such as Hume’s, which argues that humans may still be influenced by prior causes while rem//aining morally responsible when actions reflect conscious reasoning, values and intentions. Freedom therefore does not require complete independence from causation, but rather the ability to act according to one’s internal motivations without external constraint.

Q1) David Hume describes liberty as freedom when ___

‘when opposed to necessity, not to constraint.’