LIBERTARIANISM

Also called Indeterminism as a contrast with Determinism . Not all events (e.g., moral choices) are caused. The self is an agent with free will which transcends formed character and can act contrary to character or inclination in making moral choices. A person is free if and only if he could have acted or chosen differently. Determinism applies only to the person as observed, i.e., as empirical phenomena subject to laws, not to the self. Conscious or rational choice (act) and "being caused by x" are different things. Responsibility is possible either by acting according to inclinations that happen to be good or by acting contrary to inclinations that are not, as, e.g., in cases of moral temptation. Free will is a necessary condition of responsibility.