Final answer:
Determinism posits that every decision is the product of previous causes, negating free will. Libertarians challenge this by arguing that our subjective experiences of making free choices imply determinism is false. Compatibilists attempt to harmonize free will with determinism, an approach that is also met with criticism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Determinism
Determinism is a philosophical concept that suggests every event or state of affairs, including every human decision and action, is the consequence of antecedent states of affairs in accordance with certain laws of nature. According to hard determinists, the concept of free will is an illusion, as our choices are predetermined by a sequence of prior occurrences and influences. In this framework, there's a causal chain that leads to our decisions, negating the possibility of true freedom.
Libertarian Critique of Determinism
Contrasting with determinism, libertarians in philosophy argue for free will by suggesting there is a degree of autonomy in human decisions. They propose evaluating determinism's validity by reconciling it with things we believe we know—like our own experiences of making decisions and feeling as though choices are genuinely up to us. If these experiences hold true, they argue, determinism cannot be.
Compatibilism and Its Criticism
Compatibilism attempts to reconcile free will with determinism, suggesting an action can be considered free if it is caused by one's internal states, like beliefs, desires, or character. However, determinists argue this redefines freedom to fit the deterministic framework rather than truly providing for free will. Critics, like libertarians, claim that freedom necessitates the ability to have acted otherwise, which is not accommodated by determinism or compatibilism.
In summary, the debate about determinism and its consistency with human experience and the concept of free will is ongoing. Libertarians stand firm in their belief in free will and reject determinism based on human experiences typically associated with decision-making processes, while hard determinists and compatibilists maintain that all actions have causative antecedents.