Introduction to Philosophy: Soft Determinism (Compatibilism)

Soft Determinism or Compatibilism is the claim we can be "free" and also fully determined as in the sense of Hard Determinism. Both Hard Determinism and Libertarianism share the same, and most obvious, definition of free action/freewill: To be free is to be literally be able to differently than you actually do. The Soft Determinist/Compatibilist redefines freewill as not being causally determined in certain ways. For instance, not being under explicit threats, not being under irresistible physical forces (like gravity when you are tossed out of the top of that tower), not acting out the effects of a brain tumor and similar neurological dysfunctions and injuries, not being deceived, and so on. One is free when one is acting out of one's normal psychology, even if you cannot to differently than you do. So you are not free from your "normal self", but you are still "free".

Cheers!

Dr. Lee Basham