Here are a few (brief) argument outlines on free will and determinism. I think you'll notice that the essential point of difference between the two positions lies in the definition of freedom.
Determinism Argument:
- P1: All events have causes.
- P2: Decisions are events.
- P3: Decisions have causes.
- P4: That which is caused cannot be freely chosen.
- P5: Free will depends on the ability of individuals to choose freely.
- C: There is no free will.
Free Will Argument:
- P1: Free will depends on the ability of individuals to choose between alternatives.
- P2: The ability to choose between alternatives requires the existence of at least two alternatives at all times.
- P3: Individuals are always able to choose between at least two alternatives.
- C: There is free will.
For additional resources on FW and Determinism, check out the following:
- "Does Free Will Exist?" -- http://members.aol.com/plweiss1/freewill.htm
- Wikipedia's page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will
- The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy "Free Will" entry: http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/V014
- Ted Honderich's "Determinism and Freedom Philosophy Page" -- http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uctytho/dfwIntroIndex.htm
- Causal Determinism (elaborates on the premise that every event has a cause): http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/determinism-causal/
There are tons of additional offline resources as well. Let me know if you're interested in reading some papers on these issues.
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