Free will and determinism: hard determinism and soft determinism
Hard determinism says every human action has a prior cause, leaving no room for choice. Soft determinism accepts that causes shape behaviour, but still allows for some meaningful free will.
Real World
In 2009, American neuroscientist Brian Bremner argued that Vietnam veterans with PTSD-related violence could not be held fully responsible because trauma had physically altered their brain circuits, removing genuine choice — a position consistent with hard determinism.
Exam Focus
Always define both hard and soft determinism separately before comparing; examiners penalise vague 'determinism means no choice' answers.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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