Olving the Problem Between Freedom and Determinism

The position of this paper is to reject the libertarianism and hard determinism view of understanding and solving the problem between freedom and determinism, and also to support the soft determinism view with regards to the problem. To understand the problem one must define what freedom and determinism actually are. According to soft determinists, freedom comes from the idea that humans are in control of the choices they make, therefore having free will; which is a requirement for being morally responsible for an action. Determinism is the view that we have no control over the choices we make, then we do not have free will; and therefore, nobody can ever be held morally accountable for anything. The problem between freedom and determinism is whether determinism is true and if free will exists and whether these two are compatible with one another. The reason that I believe that the soft determinism view is true is because I believe that both free will and determinism are true, but I do not believe there is a irrefutable arguement for determinism that proves this is so. I also believe that determinism and free will are compatible with one another. There are many arguments of the soft determinists view; the following one involves free will and the ability if chosen to do otherwise.
One of the main arguments of soft determinism is that if you could do otherwise by yourself, then that person has free will. If a person is unable to do otherwise, then that person lacks free will. In situations where one is constrained (being held against their will) because another person is intimidating that person, free will is lacking not because of determinism, but because the victim's choices are being limited. Soft determinists argue that determinism does not matter. What matters is that one’s choices are the consequences of their own choice, and are not overwhelmed by some outside force. There are also other situations where people may lack free will, like being hypnotized or... [continues]

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