Libertarianism (metaphysics)

Libertarianism, in the context of metaphysics, is a philosophical view concerning free will. It is the position that free will is incompatible with determinism, and that agents do have free will. Thus, libertarianism is a form of incompatibilism that asserts that at least some actions are freely chosen, meaning they are not causally determined by prior events or the laws of nature.

Key tenets of metaphysical libertarianism:

• Incompatibilism: This is the core belief that free will and determinism cannot both be true. If all events are causally determined, then there is no genuine openness or alternative possibilities available to an agent.

• Rejection of Determinism: Libertarians reject the idea that all events are causally necessitated. They believe that at least some human actions are not simply the inevitable outcome of past causes.

• Agent Causation (often): Many, but not all, libertarian views embrace the concept of agent causation. This is the idea that agents themselves can initiate new causal chains without being themselves causally determined to do so. The agent is the uncaused cause of their actions. This contrasts with event causation, where one event causes another event.

• Alternative Possibilities: Libertarians emphasize the importance of alternative possibilities for free will. To have free will, an agent must have genuinely open options – the ability to have chosen differently than they actually did, given the exact same circumstances. This is often referred to as the "principle of alternative possibilities."

Challenges to Libertarianism:

• The Problem of Luck: Critics argue that if an action is not determined by prior causes, then it must be random, and therefore not under the agent's control. This raises the question of how an undetermined action can be considered a responsible or meaningful choice.

• Explanatory Power: Some argue that libertarianism struggles to provide a clear explanation of how free will actually works, particularly in light of scientific findings in neuroscience and physics.

• Compatibility with Science: The rise of scientific understanding, particularly in physics, seems to suggest a deterministic universe. Libertarians need to address how free will can operate within a universe governed by seemingly deterministic laws.

It is important to distinguish metaphysical libertarianism from political libertarianism, though some overlap in the underlying value of individual freedom may exist.