Can Compatibilism be Defended Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Can Compatibilism be Defended - Essay Example However, the reality may not necessarily lie in line with the compatibilist’s line of argument. Most philosophers before this point have attempted to deal with compatibilism using their own customised definitions of free will and determinism. For example, Peter van Inwagen uses his own definitions (Van Inwagen & Zimmerman, 1998) while Narverson accepts them and bends them during his subsequent reply. (Naverson, 1977) Similarly the definitions of Robert Kane, Strawson, and Campbell will differ largely with those of older philosophers such as Humes. (Kane, 1996) (Campbell, 1957) (Bok, 1998) Most of these definitions have only intensified the problem rather than solving it in any form. If the classical definitions of free will and determinism are used, the issue of compatibilism can be solved with much greater ease. I will attempt to define compatibilism using simple definitions of free will and determinism and will then proceed to exposing weaknesses in the compatibilist line of argument. The compatibilist is simply a proponent of the idea that free will and determinism are compatible ideas. This implies that both lines of argument can be conceded to without being logically inconsistent. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2009) In order to create an association between free will and determinism, certain very â€Å"hard to digest† definitions have been provided. ... It is not as if this simple definition is not comprehensive enough. Consider for example a very common scenario. I cannot coerce a person to commit any actions against his free will such as I cannot do anything in my power right now to say move your hand unless you wish to move your hand. You will only move your hand when you feel obliged to do so for whatever your free will demands of you. The general view includes coercive behaviour such as rape, imprisonment and the like to define free will which I believe is not totally justified. A person being raped may be coerced to perform under threat but that is merely usurpation of their free will. Such a person always has the choice of fighting back no matter what the outcome. This choice to fight back is again a constitution of free will. In a sense, human free will is like a skill one can master. Certain people have far more control over their actions because they allow their free will to do so. On the other hand most people have little control over their actions especially when they are emotionally charged such as when angry, excited or in pain because they choose not to control their behaviour in these scenarios. Just as human beings possess different characteristics, it cannot be expected of them to possess the same degrees of free will too. Doing so would serve as a major error in dealing with human free will. Hence as per the libertarian’s views, human free will allows each of us to do as we want to do, when we want to do and how we want to do. Others would argue that man is not free to do as he pleases in society and hence society controls or determines man’s free will. However, there is little to support their argument that falls on itself paradoxically.

Malcolm X and Black Nationalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Malcolm X and Black Nationalism - Essay Example Due to such mistreatment of blacks they became tired and needed a forum to express their challenges. This led to the formation of civil right movement that promoted equal education and legal rights. Despite the two being vocal in the Black Nationalism in USA, their views differed (Cone et al, 2003). MLK comes from a very affluent family and Malcolm X from a poor background, therefore the basis of argument are different in that MLX called for a Non –violent resistance for example the triumph of the Montgomery bus (1955) in Alabama whereas Malcolm X is viewed to be violent ‘By all means† Most blacks, like such as Malcolm X, MLK methods were useless and lacked basis. But, King continually emphasized in nonviolent approach. He refuses to inflict physical harm on others. According to Dr. King, he argues that nonviolence methods resist evil, and it refuses to commit evil. He continues by saying that the enemy is a person and must be treated fairly; one should not destroy the rival but rather seeks to make the foe a friend. Even if using violence fails to convert the foe to a friend; it removes hatred from the hearts of those who are committed to it.† Violence was very impractical and immoral (Waldschmidt, et, al, 2003) According to Malcolm X, he did not favor integrations of white and blacks; he even continues to warn the blacks of integrating with ‘sinking ship’. Therefore, he emphasized on black separatism and not integration. Dr. King advocated for unity and peaceful coexistence among individual of different races (Cone et al, 2003) . The different in ideas originate from the environment that one was bought in. King was brought up in a religious environment and their parents who loved unity. Unlike Malcolm X, the ideas originated from the racial hate that killed his father who influenced him in Black Nationalism activism. Moreover, he was subjected to white violence and racism, and this made him drop out of school