Explain Soft Determinism

1. Explain to us what any of these theories means (Hard Determinism, Soft Determinism, or Libertarianism) using terms or examples from Reading 1407. 2. Then, explain one problem (as defined or discussed in Reading 1407) with that theory, which suggests or implies there is a difficulty in accepting that theory.

According to Reading 1407, Soft Determinism is defined as the ability to act freely; actions are considered to be free of will, therefore humans should be held accountable for the consequences of such. Philosophers of soft determinism state that if an individual has voluntarily taken the decision to do something, then such individual is believed to have free will.

The Matrix was initially created because of choice. Choice is the lesson of The Matrix. Neo and Morpheus represent the very small percentage of individuals that do not believe that the matrix is real. Since the rest of the population didn't think about their control; machines created a system that would allow anomaly (something considered to be a violation) or choice to be controlled. Neo was able to make a choice to begin with, he was able to decide where he wanted to go. He was able to save Trinity because he chose to, even though he had been told by The Architect that his hope was useless or a delusion, and therefore that he couldn't save her. It's like God telling a mortal that something is impossible. He just had to understand the decision that he had already made and therefore this would enable him to see the consequences of saving Trinity.

The reading also emphasizes on how our choices might be manipulated by lies, such as the way that Neo's choices were at one point influenced by the Oracle. At this time Neo was not taking decisions on the facts, but mostly against his will.

The latter brings us to the negative connotation of this theory. If for any reason an individual is at any time forced by an external source or violence to act in a manner that they normally wouldn't, then it is said that such person is not free or has human freedom.

The fact that we might at times choose to act in a particular way, does not necessarily guarantee that we are acting out of free will. External forces can sometimes cause us to be as we are at a particular moment. Nevertheless, as long as our actions are caused by our own beliefs, then they are said to be free.