Final Answer:
The powerful spirit example, involving Jones stealing a car, supports compatibilism by illustrating that even in a deterministic universe, where actions are influenced by external factors, individuals can still possess free will.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the powerful spirit example, imagine Jones, under the influence of a powerful spirit, steals a car. Compatibilism asserts that free will can exist within a deterministic framework. Jones' decision to steal the car is shaped by his internal mental states and desires, symbolized by the powerful spirit.
This aligns with compatibilist views, suggesting that even if external factors determine actions, as long as an individual's internal states align with their actions, free will is present.
Compatibilism contends that free will can coexist with determinism, and this example demonstrates that an agent's internal mental states and desires, represented by the powerful spirit, play a crucial role in decision-making, rendering the notion of deep openness unnecessary for free will.
The example dismisses the need for deep openness, the idea that for free will to exist, there must be an open possibility for an agent to choose differently in the same circumstances. The powerful spirit example highlights that Jones, despite external influences, acts in accordance with his internal states.
The compatibilist stance contends that as long as an agent's decisions align with their internal desires and mental states, free will is maintained, challenging the necessity of deep openness in the philosophical discourse on free will.