Final answer:
Ludwig von Mises asserts that humans have the capability to control their instincts and impulses, distinguishing them from animals. This is achieved through deliberate adjustment of behavior based on reason and conscious decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ludwig von Mises argues that human instincts and impulses can be controlled and that what distinguishes humans from animals is their ability to adjust their behavior deliberately. This implies that humans have the capacity to use reason and conscious decision-making to shape their actions.
The moral sense of humans is believed to have originated from social instincts, including sympathy, which were gained through natural selection. However, humans have the power to rise above their instincts and make deliberate choices based on their habitual convictions, controlled by reason. This ability to adjust behavior deliberately is what sets humans apart from other animals.
Behavioral economics acknowledges our flawed self-control, employing 'nudges' to facilitate rational decisions. All these concepts contribute to the ongoing debate on human autonomy versus determinism influenced by various internal and external factors.