On the Conflict Between Determinism and Moral Responsibility The thesis of determinism seems to have dealt a crushing blow to the idea of free will and therefor to our notions of moral responsibility. If ... rely upon the ability of an agent to identify himself with his will, as in Frankfurt's conception of this notion. Watson suggests that a free will is really the result of inner workings between what he calls the "evaluational system" and the "motivational system". The evaluational system, as Gary Watson defines it is "that set of considerations which, when combined with [the ... ...

• Word Count: 4380
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... acceptance it is necessary to develop an internal coping mechanism. For Freud this mechanism was not as simple as Hobbes social contract theory; instead it was a complex strategy, involving internalized conflict resolution which relied on the balance between internal and external conflicts created by instinctive drives and societal pressure. In 1923 Freud, who was influenced by Plato, offered a deeper insight ... into the way in which the mind attempts to process inner conflicts and create harmony and peace of mind. He also added that this should not to be considered a permanent state, b...

• Word Count: 2732
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate