Determinism, or the idea that things are predetermined, is a philosophy that denies free will. Free will is the capacity of humans to make decisions independent of past events. A determinist who denies free will is said to be a "hard determinist." Regardless of which philosophical school you fall under, it's important to understand the difference between determinism and free will. Learn about the differences and how they affect the way we live.
Laplacian determinism
The concept of Laplacian determinism has its roots in early nineteenth century French thought, and it is based on a reinterpretation of Leibniz's metaphysics. The underlying principles are the principle of sufficient reason and the law of continuity. It is also based on the idea that the solution of a differential equation is unique.
Leibniz' Principle of Sufficient Reason
Leibniz' Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) holds that everything has an explanation. This includes the world, things, statements, and even random events. While the usual view of PSR grounds it in purely descriptive truths, another view holds that it is grounded in the best possible world. The idea behind PSR is that the world contains sufficient explanatory structure to permit us to live our lives in the best way possible.
Natural law determinism
The concept of natural law determinism is commonly known as determinism. It has served humanity well in explaining physical and biological phenomena. In addition, it explains how cosmic will finds expression in definite physical and biological events. However, it has also been challenged by the doctrine of evolution, which supports the idea of free will. Regardless of whether the doctrine of evolution is correct or not, evolution has led to the evolution of higher and lower levels of mental organization, including consciousness. Therefore, it has been argued that consciousness cannot influence the outcome of events.
Compatibilist determinism
The belief in compatibilist determinism holds that free will and determinism are compatible. This view is a popular alternative to the determinist view.
Marxist determinism
Marxist determinism emphasizes the primacy of the economy in society. It regards society as a series of socioeconomic formations and the state, ideology, politics, and culture as expressions of economics. The character of the economy and its interconnections with social and political infrastructures therefore condition both of them.
Soft determinism
Some people who accept causal determinism are called soft determinists. They believe that human behavior is determined by forces beyond our control, but that such forces are compatible with our obligations and moral practices. Representatives of this position are the seventeenth-century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes and the eighteenth-century American clergyman Jonathan Edwards. Other advocates include David Hume and Martin Heidegger.