do we have free will? if not, why? if so, which theory of free will do you subscribe to -- libertarianism or traditional compatibilism or hierarchical compatibilism? why? argue both for your favored theory and against the rival theories.

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Free Will as Libertarianism

The Importance of the Ability to Do Otherwise

The concept of free will in philosophical discussion is surrounded with a host of differing views that range from the extremes of libertarianism to determinism and that include the moderated positions of compatibilism . With respect to these positions , the answer one gives to the question Do we have free will ' will vary greatly depending upon which framework one chooses to apply to the discussion . In this essay I will argue for a

position of libertariansm against the views of both compatibilism as well as hierarchical compatibilism . I begin first by briefly describing these three views and conclude with a critique of the two compatibilism views while putting forward an argument for libertarianism

Libertarianism argues for a concept of freedom which emphasizes that in for an agent to be fully free , that agent must have the real possibility of doing the opposite of a specific action . John Locke , in his Treatise of Human Understanding offers a good example of what the ability to do otherwise ' means . He asks us to imagine a man that has fallen asleep and been carried into a room into which he is locked with a good friend . Upon waking , the man sees his friend , and due to his desire to have good conversation , he remains in the room . For Locke and the libertarians , the man is not free simply because he wants to be in the room rather he...