Hume's
Compatibilism
A.
Hume argues
that the debate about freedom of action and determinism is just so much hot
air---it is a verbal dispute that will reveal itself as such when the notions
of necessity (i.e., determinism) and liberty (i.e., freedom) are defined.
B.
Necessity
1.
We come to have
this idea by paying attention to the relation between cause and effect.
a.
Causation
consists simply in "the uniformity observable in the operations of
nature, where similar objects are constantly conjoined together and the mind
is determined by custom to infer the one from the appearance of the
other."
b.
The idea of necessity
consists simply in this constant conjunction and inference of the
imagination.
2.
There is no
other idea of necessity forthcoming from perception---no "unbreakable
bond" between cause and effect.
Our idea of necessity is a product of imagination.
3.
This doctrine
applies to causation in the external world and to human behavior, as is
apparent from our actions.
a.
We might think
that certain things happen randomly, but we think this only because we are
ignorant of all of the relevant factors. Randomness is merely apparent.
b.
In our
reasoning and planning, we assume necessity.
A.
1. Not incompatible with necessity but
with constraint. 2. "A power of acting or not acting
according to the determinations of the will".
B.
Compatibilism is
necessary for morality---we need both liberty and necessity.
1.
Without
necessity, there would be no regularity in human behavior and without that,
no room for moral laws.
2.
Furthermore,
there must be some regular connection between one's actions and one's motives
if those actions |