A Question of Responsibility: Freedom and Determinism Essay by Master Researcher

This essay will argue that the debate between freedom and determinism is not a moot or abstract philosophical argument but is, rather, a profoundly practical question given that, at its core, it deals with the attribution of moral responsibility for action. As will be seen, although thinkers who reflect on this question often resort to complex thought problems, in the end the debate invariably returns to the issue of whether individuals can be considered morally responsible for their actions.