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Free Will vs. Determinism
Making a false report in order to secure insurance benefits constitutes insurance fraud. Proponents of rational choice theory suggest that people who commit insurance fraud make the conscious decision to violate the terms of their insurance contract.
Even a person in difficult circumstances can find alternative ways to meet their needs. However, determinists believe that the social environment contributes to the commission of such a crime. In the absence of a universal healthcare system, for example, a person may be tempted to commit fraud in order to secure needed medical treatment.
Similarly, rational choice theorists would condemn a shoplifter for deciding to steal. Determinist theorists might take a closer look at the circumstances. The mother of a baby who shoplifts infant formula might get some consideration from determinist theorists, as opposed to a person who shoplifts designer jeans.
Rational choice theorists might similarly condemn a woman who engages in prostitution, stating that there are many other legal ways to make a living. However, a determinist theorist could argue that given the wage inequity between the genders, women who turn to prostitution may do so due to the lack of professions that pay good wages for female employees.
Drug use is another issue that generates much debate. Rational choice theorists often follow the "Just say no" route, and that drug addicts should be penalized for violating the law. Determinists, on the other hand, point out that laws vary by society, and that the laws prohibiting marijuana use only reflect the values of a select elite.
Rational choice theorists may also condemn people who commit euthanasia, whether or not the act was committed with a patient's consent. However, determinists would look more into the situation. Was the patient terminally ill and in pain? Was there consent? These questions will help a determinist in evaluating whether or not a crime has occurred.
Free Will Commentary: Soft Determinism and Hard Determinism and the Application of Morality Free Will & Hard Determinism Free will is a concept that holds that all individuals are free to make their own choices about their lives including their own health care, career pursuit, religious and moral choices. Within the realm of the discussion on free will is a concept known as hard determinism, which holds that if an action is
Human beings understand that their free will is not threatened by the future of the stars. Faith is a choice that need not be influenced by the fact that the sun will one day burn away. Nor is faith influenced by the ineffability of divine foreknowledge. Human beings have but a partial understanding of the divine and indeed of the universe. It is therefore not a matter of whether
Q3: Define free will and determinism. Discuss how free will and determinism are relevant to the following theories: Free will may be defined as the ability to make decisions independent of social, biological, and cognitive shaping mechanisms; determinism is the idea one is subject to such forces at cannot fundamentally alter one's future trajectory in a meaningful manner. Freud's psychoanalytic theory Freud took a highly deterministic view of how the human psyche was
Determinism and Sliding Doors Determinism is an integral theme in Director Peter Howitt's movie, Sliding Doors. In Sliding Doors, a small, seemingly insignificant act makes profound changes in the life of the lead character, Helen. Nonetheless, as the movie progresses, it becomes clear that some fundamental aspects of Helen's life, told in parallel stories, remain the same, suggesting some role for determinism. Determinism is a school of philosophical thought that argues that
On the other hand, those who subscribe to the theory of free will believe that life's events are a direct result of the person's own self-generated actions. It is the philosophical idea that a person is able to choose from a variety of real alternatives, and depending on which alternative is chosen, it is this choice that ultimately determines the outcome ("Free Will"). In Christian theology, free will involves the
Determinism FREEDOM OF THE WILL AND DETERMINISM Contra: Chapter 39. Baron D'Holbach: "We Are Completely Determined" Pro: Chapter 40. "Corliss Lamont: Freedom of the Will and Human Responsibility" (334-337) The nature of the freedom of the human will remains one of the most debated questions between philosophers. The durability of the debate is evidenced in the introductory philosophy anthology The Quest for Truth, when the Enlightenment era defender of determinism, Baron D'Holbach is pitted