Freedom and Determinism
Kylie Roberts
Three philosophers d’Holbach, James, and Sartre were all closely followed and had their thoughts
published at great length. d’Holbach’s core belief was that our choices are made and people’s actions are
driven by the circumstances they encounter. Any kind of motivation for driving that action is also based
on circumstance. One’s self is passive. You only act as a vehicle for the circumstance you are in. Free will
is questioned at length in human behavior. A person cannot choose to be hungry, but we eat because we
are hungry and we eat what is available to us.
James had a very different philosophy. His work was a combination of science, psychology, and
philosophy. His works were based on the will to believe that we have the opportunity to shape our
morality, religion, social improvement, and self-improvement. A person’s life choices shape their life
