Determinism: Difference between revisions
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= Determinism = | = Determinism = | ||
== | == Introduction == | ||
== | == Definitions == | ||
==== | ==== Determinism ==== | ||
According the [[Free will|article about free will]], determinism can be defined as “''the thesis that the course of the future is entirely determined by the conjunction of the past and the laws of nature.”''<ref>Timpe, Kevin (n.d.). Free Will. ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL= <nowiki>https://iep.utm.edu/freewill/#H3</nowiki> | According the [[Free will|article about free will]], determinism can be defined as “''the thesis that the course of the future is entirely determined by the conjunction of the past and the laws of nature.”''<ref>Timpe, Kevin (n.d.). Free Will. ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL= <nowiki>https://iep.utm.edu/freewill/#H3</nowiki> | ||
↑ <sup>[[Free will#cite ref-:1 3-0|Jump up to:3.0]]</sup> <sup>[[Free will#cite ref-:1 3-1|3.1]]</sup></ref> | ↑ <sup>[[Free will#cite ref-:1 3-0|Jump up to:3.0]]</sup> <sup>[[Free will#cite ref-:1 3-1|3.1]]</sup></ref> | ||
==== | ==== Free Will (Indeterminism) ==== | ||
Again referring to the [[Free will|article about free will]], free will (also called indeterminism) refers to having the full control to independently decide, which actions to carry out. In other words, free will can be described as ''"a significant kind of control over one’s actions”''<ref>O’Connor, Timothy and Christopher Franklin (2022). Free Will. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Winter 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2022/entries/freewill</nowiki></ref>, as cited in the article. | Again referring to the [[Free will|article about free will]], free will (also called indeterminism) refers to having the full control to independently decide, which actions to carry out. In other words, free will can be described as ''"a significant kind of control over one’s actions”''<ref>O’Connor, Timothy and Christopher Franklin (2022). Free Will. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Winter 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2022/entries/freewill</nowiki></ref>, as cited in the article. | ||
==== | ==== Causal Determinism ==== | ||
The idea that every event is caused by previous events and conditions, along with the natural laws that govern them, implying that all actions and decisions are the result of prior causes (Hoefer, 2023).<ref>Hoefer, C. (2023, September 21). Causal Determinism. ''Standord Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/determinism-causal/</nowiki></ref> | The idea that every event is caused by previous events and conditions, along with the natural laws that govern them, implying that all actions and decisions are the result of prior causes (Hoefer, 2023).<ref>Hoefer, C. (2023, September 21). Causal Determinism. ''Standord Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/determinism-causal/</nowiki></ref> | ||
==== | ==== Logical Determinism ==== | ||
The idea that all propositions (statements), including those about the future, must be either true or false. This means that the [[truth]] or falsity of statements about future events is already fixed, even if those events have not yet occurred (Vihvelin, 2022, under “1. Preliminaries”).<ref name=":0">Vihvelin, K. (2022, August 22). Arguments for Incompatibilism. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/incompatibilism-arguments/</nowiki></ref> | The idea that all propositions (statements), including those about the future, must be either true or false. This means that the [[truth]] or falsity of statements about future events is already fixed, even if those events have not yet occurred (Vihvelin, 2022, under “1. Preliminaries”).<ref name=":0">Vihvelin, K. (2022, August 22). Arguments for Incompatibilism. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/incompatibilism-arguments/</nowiki></ref> | ||
==== | ==== Theological Determinism ==== | ||
The idea that an omniscient God exists, who knows about the [[truth]] or falsity of all propositions, including those about the future, leading to the question of how free will can exist when God already infallibly knows all that is going to happen (Vihvelin, 2022, under “1. Preliminaries”).<ref name=":0" /> | The idea that an omniscient God exists, who knows about the [[truth]] or falsity of all propositions, including those about the future, leading to the question of how free will can exist when God already infallibly knows all that is going to happen (Vihvelin, 2022, under “1. Preliminaries”).<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==== | ==== Compatibilism ==== | ||
As explained in the [[Free will|article about free will]], compatibilism is the idea that determinism is fully compatible with free will, and also that the freedom or abscence of freedom of an action is defined independently from its determination or causation, but by whether the action is caused by the person in question itself or another person or circumstance. Moreover, compatibilism states that causation and determination are a necessity for free and responsible action.<ref name=":1">Russell, P. (2020, May 27). Hume on free will. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-freewill/#FreWilHumRel</nowiki></ref> | As explained in the [[Free will|article about free will]], compatibilism is the idea that determinism is fully compatible with free will, and also that the freedom or abscence of freedom of an action is defined independently from its determination or causation, but by whether the action is caused by the person in question itself or another person or circumstance. Moreover, compatibilism states that causation and determination are a necessity for free and responsible action.<ref name=":1">Russell, P. (2020, May 27). Hume on free will. ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''. URL=<nowiki>https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-freewill/#FreWilHumRel</nowiki></ref> | ||
==== | ==== Incompatibilism ==== | ||
The idea opposite to [[compatibilism]], claiming that determinism is incompatible with [[free will]]. | The idea opposite to [[compatibilism]], claiming that determinism is incompatible with [[free will]]. | ||
== | == Philosophers on Determinism and the consequences == | ||
=== Isaac Newton === | === Isaac Newton === | ||
Newton's fundamental laws, formulated back in 1687<ref>Scheck, F. (2018). ''Mechanics: From Newton's laws to deterministic chaos''. Springer.</ref>, imply that the behaviour of all matter in the world is governed by universal patterns, making him a supporter of the idea of determinism:<blockquote>“I. Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform rectilinear motion, except if it is compelled by forces acting on it to change that state. | Newton's fundamental laws, formulated back in 1687<ref>Scheck, F. (2018). ''Mechanics: From Newton's laws to deterministic chaos''. Springer.</ref>, imply that the behaviour of all matter in the world is governed by universal patterns, making him a supporter of the idea of determinism:<blockquote>“I. Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform rectilinear motion, except if it is compelled by forces acting on it to change that state. | ||