Philosophy writing assignment #2
Professor: James Shaw
Xiaokai Wang
11/19/2014
Classic Compatibilism
Before the discussion of classic compatibilism, the concept of it should be clarified clearly. The compatibilism is one philosophical idea which considers that the concepts of determinism and the libertarianism can exist at the same time at some degree. According to James Shaw’s handout #10[ James Shaw, Philosophy handout 10], “compatibilists think a favored sense of "free" on which determinism does not entail that there is only one thing we can do, or that we can't be "free".” That is even everything is determined(including the nature force), human beings could also be “free”. To be free, most compatibilists have insisted, means in ordinary language (1) to have the power or…show more content… The problem raised by Hume is mainly in the section called "free will", as the first proposed in the book A Treatise of Human Nature(2.3.1 - 2)[ Hume, D. (2009). A treatise of human nature being an attempt to introduce the experimental method of reasoning into moral subjects. Waiheke Island: Floating Press.], later, in slightly modified form, in the Enquiry concerning Human Understanding (SEC. 8)[ Hume, D., & Bigge, L. (1975). Enquiries concerning human understanding and concerning the principles of morals (3d ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.]. Although between the two statements of Hume's position there contains considerable overlap, there are some significant differences, which result in, for instance, some substantial additions in the Enquiry discussion as it relates to problems of religion, such as scheduled and the Holy prophet. These differences are significant and they should not be overstated. Still, on the same basic strategy and compatibilist, Hume’s works stay constantly in the
