SOFT DETERMINISMRoscano, Janine P.

II-4 BFE

Soft Determinism is the theory that human behavior and

actions are wholly determined by causal events, but human

free will does exist when defined as the capacity to act

according to one's nature.

1) INTERNAL CAUSES1)INTERNAL CAUSESLead to voluntary

actions of free will, the results of one's

own wishes or desires

2) EXTERNAL CAUSES

Lead to involuntary actions of compulsion,

contrary to one's wishes or desires.

It is this distinction which explains why soft determinism requires free-will. According to soft determinists, when we say a person acted freely

we mean they did not act under compulsion or external pressure -

they acted as free agents, even though their actions were just as

much caused as those that are not free. Soft determinists therefore define freedom as the liberty of spontaneity, the freedom to act

according to one's nature which is determined by external factors such

as heredity, education and background.