PHIL180: Great Issues

Writing Assignment: Free Will & Determinism

Due: Tuesday, November 28

We have read and discussed three articles debating the arguments for determinism, compatibilism, and free will. you should decide which viewpoint you consider most reasonable, and write an essay explaining why you find that viewpoint the best. here are some things to consider as you write:

  1. Make sure you accurately represent the viewpoint. Don’t say, for example, that free will people believe every single action of human beings is free. Not even the existentialists who we are reading now believe that, and they believe that freedom is very strong. If you argue for compatibilism, make sure you represent that view correctly (and do this even if you argue against it!)
  1. Use examples to explain your viewpoint. It would be best if some of these examples came from your own head—either from thinking of concrete types of actions or situations, or by recalling experiences you’ve had, etc.
  1. Make sure that you also say why you think this view is more reasonable than the other views. In making the criterion reasonableness, I am not asking you to prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt. Rather, show that there are good reasons for thinking the way you do, and no strong arguments against your position that you can’t give some critical response to. You could say you believe X even though all the evidence points to Y, simply because you want to believe X. I can’t argue with that—it is your right to say so, but it’s just not philosophy. you have to give me some good reasons to agree with you.
  1. When giving examples, make sure you do not use the pronoun “they” if it is referring to a singular subject, such as “everyone” or “everybody” or “a person” or “someone,” or “each.” “They” matches up with words like “people,” “all” and other nouns/pronouns.
  1. You can mention Sartre or Beauvoir, but I won’t expect you to.
  1. Length is: don’t write a paper so short it skips important parts of the argument, and don’t stretch one out needlessly. Most will be in the 3-5 page range.
  1. Remember: paper-clip, don’t staple!