Philosophy Reflection
Hobbes, Locke, and Berkeley each write about the human will. After researching those passages, briefly state whether each philosopher thinks the will is free or determined. In your opinion, who is correct? Explain your answer.
Human will can be described as the ability to make decisions to take rather than relying on the influence of stimuli. Hobbes believes that human will is determined. For instance, Hobbes compares human beings to machines and states that human beings have different thoughts and emotions which work like the physical laws to generate an effect, action or reaction. This explains that human beings rely on their thoughts and feelings about certain things to develop their will or decisions.
However, Locke believes that human will to be free. Locke describes human will as the power in humans, which directs the body and mind of an individual. For example, a man can think or fail to think; capacity to make a move or not to make a move based on the direction his mind dictates (Melchert & Morrow, 178-184). Moreover, Berkeley believes that human will is usually determined. Berkeley, on the other hand, described human will as ideas which are mainly dependent on the mind of an individual.
According to the three philosophers, my opinion points to Locke to be correct in his definition of human will. This is because humans have power over everything, including the bad and the good. The decision to choose what to do and not to do, what to follow and not to follow lies solely on human beings. Given the freedom of choice, then humans are free to select what suits them and what doesn’t then adopt what is best for them.
Works cited
Melchert, D. & Morrow, D. The Great Conversation, CTC Custom Edition, 8th Edition, Oxford University Press.