Original scientific paper

Self-Determination. Free Will, Responsibility, and Determinism

Michael Pauen ; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Philosophie, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

An analysis of our commonsense concept of freedom yields two “minimal criteria”: (1) Autonomy distinguishes freedom from compulsion; (2) Authorship distinguishes freedom from chance. Translating freedom into “self-determination” can account for both criteria. Self-determination is understood as determination by “personal-preferences” which are constitutive for a person. Freedom and determinism are therefore compatible; the crucial question is not whether an action is determined at all but, rather, whether it is determined by personal preferences. This account can do justice to the most important intuitions concerning freedom, including the ability to do otherwise. Waiving determination, by contrast, would violate the minimal criteria rather than providing “more” freedom. It is concluded that self-determination provides everything that we can ask for if we ask for freedom.

Keywords

free will; self-determination; responsibility; determinism; alternative possibilities

Hrčak ID:

23586

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23586

Publication date:

15.2.2008.

Article data in other languages: french german

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