Final answer:
Libertarian free will is the philosophical belief that individuals have the capacity to make choices without being constrained by external determinants. This contrasts with determinism, which suggests all actions are caused by preceding events. Libertarians argue for the existence of free will based on the Principle of Alternative Possibilities and the experiences of human consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Definition of Libertarian Free Will
The definition of libertarian free will refers to the belief in metaphysical freedom, where human actions are not determined by external forces. Instead, individuals possess the autonomy to make choices and shape their destiny.
This concept is closely aligned with the Principle of Alternative Possibilities (PAP), which states that a person is free only if they could have acted differently in a given situation.
Prominent existentialists, such as Jean-Paul Sartre, argue that our essence is defined by the choices we make, thus emphasizing the importance of free will in shaping our identity.
Within the free will debate, libertarians contend that every person has the inherent capability to choose among alternatives without being coerced or predetermined by prior events.
This position stands in contrast to determinism, which asserts that all events, including human actions, are caused by preceding events in accordance with the laws of nature. Libertarians maintain that if our actions were solely determined by external factors, moral responsibility would be undermined, as our choices would not be truly our own.
A pivotal figure, Taylor in 'A Contemporary Defense of Free Will', rejects both Compatibilism and Simple Indeterminism and supports the libertarian viewpoint.
Taylor's agency theory postulates that humans are free agents capable of self-determination, and this self-created action is a testament to human freedom.
Conversely, critics of libertarianism often challenge whether our subjective experience of freedom truly indicates the existence of free will, or if it is an illusion created by our consciousness.