Cory Palmer

Professor Drexler
Philosophy 1000

Twitter Philosophy

Summary of What Means This Freedom

John Hospers argues that there can be no legitimate claim that people are

morally responsible for their actions. Whether the actions are immoral or moral, they are

already determined and we exercise no free will. His reasoning for this is that we cannot

be held accountable for the actions of our character due to the individual being shaped

and molded by external factors. For example, we do not get to choose the setting and

environment in which we grow up in, nor the kind of parents well have.

People often assume that others have been constructed like we are. Not

everyone has the same upbringing or share the same experience. We forget the

external factors that influence ones character. Neurotics are not responsible for their

behavior (that part of it which we call neurotic) because it stems from undigested

infantile conflicts that they had no part of bringing about, and that are external to them

just as surely as if their behavior had been forced on them by a malevolent deity.

(Hospers pg. 480).

 Twitter Statement

Every action, whether moral or immoral, is already determined for you and free will

cannot be exercised. #Psyche #Upbringings #Freewill

#Psyche - People who have a strong psyche and are able to develop good healthy

habits often fault those who dont have those same habits, and are labeled as weak or

lazy. Those with weak psyches cannot exercise free will and cant be held accountable

for their actions, they were already predetermined. If their psyches were constructed

like ours, they could, but they are burdened with a tyrannical super-ego and a weak

defenseless ego whose energies are constantly consumed in fighting endless charges

of the super-ego. (Hospers pg. 480).

#Upbringings - We dont get to choose the person we become, there are many external

factors that play a role in shaping and molding us into who we are today. Probably the

most influencing external factor that affects who we become are our parents. They bring

us up and raise us since we are born. However, we dont get to choose who our parents

are, what our family is like, where we live, or if we are born into money or not. All these

factors have an effect on who we become and what decisions are made for us. We are

not responsible for our actions, since we are not responsible for the character out of

which those actions spring. (Hospers pg. 479).