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Determinism, Naturalism, and Self-Defeat: Unraveling the Complexities of Human Action

Bill Grant

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Published in The Epistemological Skyhook: Determinism Naturalism And Self Defeat (Routledge Studies In Contemporary Philosophy 82)

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The relationship between determinism, naturalism, and self-defeat is a complex and fascinating one that has been the subject of much philosophical debate. In this article, we will explore the nature of these concepts and their implications for our understanding of human action.

Determinism is the philosophical view that all events are causally determined. This means that for any event that occurs, there is a set of prior conditions that make it inevitable that the event will occur. In other words, the past completely determines the future.

There are many different arguments for determinism. One common argument is that the laws of nature are deterministic. These laws govern the behavior of matter and energy, and they are believed to be universal and unchanging. Therefore, if the laws of nature are deterministic, then it follows that all events in the universe are also deterministic.

The Epistemological Skyhook: Determinism Naturalism and Self Defeat (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy 82)

The Epistemological Skyhook: Determinism, Naturalism, and Self-Defeat (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy Book 82)

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Another argument for determinism is based on the idea of causality. Causality is the relationship between cause and effect. It is said that an event is the cause of another event if and only if the first event makes the second event more likely to occur. If the laws of causality are deterministic, then it follows that all events are causally determined.

Naturalism is the philosophical view that the natural world is all that exists. This means that there is no supernatural realm or immaterial substances. Naturalists believe that everything in the universe is composed of matter and energy, and that all events can be explained by the laws of nature.

Naturalism is often contrasted with supernaturalism, which is the belief that there is a supernatural realm or immaterial substances. Supernaturalists believe that some events cannot be explained by the laws of nature, and that there is a supernatural force or being that is responsible for these events.

Self-defeat is the phenomenon of acting in a way that undermines one's own goals or intentions. For example, a person who wants to lose weight might eat a piece of cake, even though they know that it will make them gain weight.

Self-defeat can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Cognitive biases: Cognitive biases are errors in thinking that can lead to self-defeating behavior. For example, a person who is overconfident might believe that they can succeed without putting in any effort, which can lead to them failing.
Emotional dysregulation: Emotional dysregulation is the inability to control one's emotions. This can lead to self-defeating behavior, such as acting impulsively or making decisions that are based on emotions rather than logic.
Poor self-control: Poor self-control is the inability to resist temptations or to stay on track with one's goals. This can lead to self-defeating behavior, such as procrastinating or giving up on one's goals.

The relationship between determinism, naturalism, and self-defeat is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, determinism suggests that all events are causally determined, which would seem to imply that self-defeat is impossible. After all, if our actions are determined by prior conditions, then how can we be held responsible for our self-defeating behavior?

On the other hand, naturalism suggests that there is no supernatural realm or immaterial substances. This means that there is no external force or being that can intervene to prevent us from acting in self-defeating ways.

The tension between determinism and naturalism has led some philosophers to argue that self-defeat is possible, even in a deterministic universe. These philosophers argue that self-defeat is a natural phenomenon that can be explained by the laws of nature.

For example, the philosopher Harry Frankfurt has argued that self-defeating actions are caused by a conflict between our second-Free Download desires (i.e., our desires about our desires) and our first-Free Download desires (i.e., our desires for specific things). Frankfurt argues that when our second-Free Download desires conflict with our first-Free Download desires, we can end up acting in self-defeating ways.

The relationship between determinism, naturalism, and self-defe

The Epistemological Skyhook: Determinism, Naturalism, and Self-Defeat (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy Book 82)

5 out of 5