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Determinism: Difference between revisions
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'''Determinism''' is the belief that everything that occurs in the universe is 100% caused by everything that occurred before it since the beginning of time. They argue that anything else would violate laws of cause and effect. Many famous philosophers from the very beginning of philosophy have been some form of determinist, though a common project throughout history has also been to reconcile free will with determinism. | '''Determinism''' is the belief that everything that occurs in the universe is 100% caused by everything that occurred before it since the beginning of time. They argue that anything else would violate laws of cause and effect. Many famous philosophers from the very beginning of philosophy have been some form of determinist, though a common project throughout history has also been to reconcile free will with determinism. | ||
Opponents to determinists are indeterminists. These are often called 'libertarians' (not in the political sense). Indeterminists | Opponents to determinists are indeterminists. These are often called 'libertarians' (not in the political sense). Indeterminists self-identify under a number of religions and philosophies. One influential argument against determinism was/is Cartesian dualism, which is the idea that the human psyche is so unique it can operate as a unique cause. Historically, indeterminists were identified with religions, especially Christianity, as seen by Thomas Aquinas's famous defense of free will.<ref>https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nbfr.12102</ref> However, radical forms of indeterminism are rare. Some other forms of indeterminism exist, including Humean approaches to universal laws. | ||
Soft determinists attempt to reconcile determinism with free-will.<ref>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/compatibilism/</ref> Criticisms of the concept include the claim that the compatibilists conception of 'free will' are often so close to determinism as to be the same thing in all practical sense. These critics argue the ability to determine outcomes is more important than the ability to choose, but not affect outcomes. | Soft determinists attempt to reconcile determinism with free-will.<ref>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/compatibilism/</ref> Criticisms of the concept include the claim that the compatibilists conception of 'free will' are often so close to determinism as to be the same thing in all practical sense. These critics argue the ability to determine outcomes is more important than the ability to choose, but not affect outcomes. | ||