Epistemology and Existentialism Analytical Essay by cduexe

Epistemology and Existentialism
An analysis of Hume's essay, "Of Liberty and Necessity", and the compatibility between the principles of determinism and free will.
# 153801 | 1,365 words | 5 sources | APA | 2014 | KE
Published on Jan 28, 2014 in Philosophy (Epistemology) , Philosophy (General)


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Description:

This paper addresses the principles of determinism and free will and if there is conflict between them. The paper analyzes Hume's essay, "Of Liberty and Necessity", and explains how according to Hume, there is no genuine conflict between the doctrine of liberty and the doctrine of necessity. The paper then examines De Beauvoir's "The Ethics of Ambiguity", and how she makes freedom as the basis of moral obligation. The paper concludes that De Beauvoir's understanding of free will is, just as Hume's understanding, compatible with determinism.

From the Paper:

"Many philosophers have tackled a question that had somewhat been disputed for long. The question still remains, whether, in the event that our actions can be determined causally, whether or not, we will still be able to act in a free manner.Hume, in his essay, Of Liberty and Necessity(Russell 2008), questions whether our commitment that is deeply-rooted, with regards to considering other people as being morally responsible, also makes us committed to considering them as being excluded from the general order of nature; or whether at some point they are somehow excluded from the operation of casual regulations. These are questions that have been for a long time disputed; is it the issue of free will against (or/and) Determinism; or is it the question of Causal determination and moral responsibility? What is referred to by Hume as the doctrine of necessity, is actually the Determinism Principle; of which, all events, such as human actions, are as a result of prior causes. On the other hand, what Hume refers to as the doctrine of liberty, is actually the principle of free will assumption, of which all people, people at any rate; specifically adults, all have the capacity to behave and act in free manner, thus, they are all morally responsible for whatever they do."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Bergoffen, Debra. 2011. "Simone de Beauvoir." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/beauvoir/.
  • Botterill, George. 2002. "Hume on Liberty and Necessity." In Reading Hume on Human Understanding, edited by P. Millican, 277-300. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • Moore, Charlotte. 2008. "The Ethics of Ambiguity." Philosophy Now (69). http://www.philosophynow.org/issue69/The_Ethics_of_Ambiguity .
  • Mussett, Shannon. 2010. "Simone de Beauvoir (1908--1986)." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Utah Valley University. http://www.iep.utm.edu/beauvoir/.
  • Russell, Paul. 2008. Hume on Free Will. Edited by N. Zalta. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Fall 2008. Stanford, CA. <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/hume-freewill/>. .

Cite this Analytical Essay:

APA Format

Epistemology and Existentialism (2014, January 28) Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/epistemology-and-existentialism-153801/

MLA Format

"Epistemology and Existentialism" 28 January 2014. Web. 29 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/epistemology-and-existentialism-153801/>

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