Free Will Or Determinism? Absolving Responsibility
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7 pages in length. Taking responsibility for one's actions is not considered to be one of man's most admirable traits, a reality clearly illustrated by the preponderance of frivolous law suits clogging up the justice system. The extent to which responsibility comes from a place of moral accountability is both grand and far-reaching; that humanity has long attempted to impugn determinism as the sole reason why people behave as they do speaks to a species whose capacity for higher-thinking fails to accept the fact that people are governed by free will and fully culpable for their actions. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TLCFrWillDet.rtf

Free Will Verses Determinism as Revealed in Selections from the Fictional Literature
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A 10 page exploration of the short stories encompassed by Miguel de Unamuno and Eric Bentley in their books “Abel Sanchez and Other Stories” (Unamuno) and “Life is a Dream: (Bentley). Unamuno’s book contains the short stories “Abel Sanchez”, “The Madness of Doctor Montarco”, and “San Manuel Bueno, Matyr” while Bentley’s “Life is a Dream” encompasses translations of Calderon's “La Vida es un Sueño” (Life is a Dream), Lope de Vega's “Fuente Ovejuna” (Fountain of Youth), and Tirso de Molina's “Don Juan”. Each of these stories add insight to our understanding of the free will verses determinism debate. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: PPlifeDr.rtf

Free Will, Determinism And Moral Responsibility
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This 7 page paper addresses the very complex question of: Can free will and moral responsibility coexist? Calling on such historical figures as Kant, Hobbes, Tolstoy, Spinoza, Hume and Locke, the writer define freedom of action and describes and defines the different models of determinism. The essay suggests that free will and moral responsibility can coexist even within one model of determinism. The writer also points out that Hume was a compatibilist, which follows the belief that there is no inconsistency between thinking that our actions are causally determined by factors outside our control, and thinking that we can be morally responsible and have free will. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PGfrwldt.rtf

Free Will: The Views of Hume and Locke
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This 5 page paper focuses on Hume's ideas about cause and effect. Locke's idea about power is duly noted and compared and contrasted with that of Hume. The concept of fate is discussed in depth and the issue of free will vs. determinism is at the center of that discussion. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: SA530Hm.rtf

FREEDOM AND DETERMANISM
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This 6 page paper discusses the issues of free will and determinism as proscribed and argued by Dr. Richard Taylor in his book, Metaphysics. Quotes cited from text. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Filename: MBfreewill.rtf

Freedom of the Will According to Immanuel Kant and David Hume
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This 6 page report discusses Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and David Hume (1711-1776) who were two of the 18th century Western world’s philosophers who were particularly concerned with issues relating to what is “right” or “good” and what best serves the needs of humankind both collectively and individually. Their thoughts regarding the freedom of the human will are discussed and compared. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: BWfreewl.rtf

Freedom Within Specific Philosophical Views
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A 15 page paper. This essay addresses freedom within the concepts of fatalism, determinism/indeterminism, predestination and existentialism. Different philosophers as well as the Bible are used as references in the discussion of how freedom is perceived within these philosophical issues. Bibliography lists 16 sources.
Filename: PGfree8.wps

FREEWILL VERSUS DETERMINISM
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This 3 page paper examines whether a person has freewill or lives according to determined natural laws. Bibliography lists 0 sources.
Filename: MBfrewil.rtf

Freud, Socrates, Christ
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This 5 page paper addresses two topics: What would Socrates say about Freud's Civilization and its Discontents; and What would Freud say about the Sermon on the Mount/The Beatitudes? Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: PGfrdsc.rtf

Friedrich Nietzsche and Why Punishment Exists
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This 5 page report discusses Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and his belief that traditional values represent a “slave morality,” a morality created by weak and resentful individuals who encouraged such behavior as gentleness and kindness because the behavior serves their interests. The report examines his understanding of human thought regarding severe and oppressing punishment as the end result of a failure to meet predetermined moral obligations and follow the constrictions associated with those responsibilities. Bibliography lists one source.
Filename: BWntzglt.rtf

G.F. Leibniz's Theory of Monads
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A 4 page critique of Gottfield Wilheml Leibniz's Monad theory which attempts to describe a harmonious universe made up of an infinite number of monads, or units, arranged in a hierarchy and originating in the Supreme Monad, which is God. The writer feels that Leibniz's theory is both vague and overstated-- leaving room open for much question. No Bibliography.
Filename: Leibniz.wps

G.F. Leibniz's Theory of Monads # 2
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Similar to Leibniz.wps, this 2 page essay looks at some of the reasons for Leibniz's creation of a Monad theory in light of the works of Newton & others. In the writer's opinion, the Monad theory was used to fill some unseen 'gap' created by unclear ideas such as gravity.
Filename: Leibniz2.wps

George Berkeley's Doctrine of Notions
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This 11 page paper relates the elementse of George Berkeley’s doctrine of notions. This paper outlines the fact that Berkeley's doctrine of notions is based on his own views of meaning and the way in which perception influences meaning. For Berkeley, notions then, are essentially ideas of the imagination that are representative of abstractions, and Berkeley attempts to define the connection between elements of the mind and the abstractions that have determined a conceptual view of God and self. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: MHberk22.rtf

God Does Exist
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5 pages. This paper is based on Rene Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy, using Meditation three as the primary source. This particular meditation is entitled 'Of God: That He Exists'. This analytical paper discusses this particular topic and shows how and why Descartes' argument on the existence of God is indeed valid. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Filename: JGAdegod.rtf

God's Existence & Skepticism
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A 4 page research paper that consists of two 2-page essays. The first essay concerns the cosmological and ontological arguments for the existence of God. These terms are defined and described and then criticisms for each are discussed. The second essay concerns Kant's response to the skepticism of David Hume and whether or not Kant succeeded in his goal of revolutionizing epistemology, which the writer argues that he does. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: kh2essy.rtf

God, Ultimate Reality, Epistemology, Ethics, and the Nature of Human Beings: A Personal Worldview
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A 7 page review of these life concepts. Written from a personal perspective, this paper delves into some of the hardest questions of life. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: PPrlgWorldView.rtf

Gods in Homer and Plato
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A 6 page paper which examines how gods figure into the work of Homer and Plato. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: RAgdshmr.rtf

God’s Existence in Hume, Rowe, and Swinburne
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Exploration of David Hume's Dialogues and characers (Philo, Cleanthes, Demea) in comparison to each other and modern theory in consideration of the scientific question of God's existence. Bibilography lists 1 source. jvRnRFei.rtf
Filename: jvRnRFei.rtf

God’s Existence: Craig, Socrates, and Nietzsche
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A 5 page paper which examines an argument concerning God’s existence, presented by William Lane Craig, and then discusses what Socrates and Nietzsche would argue. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: RAgdnze.rtf

Gregory of Nyssa and St. Augustine
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A 7 page paper which presents a theme from Chapter X of St. Augustine’s Confessions and then discusses a similar theme in A Eulogy for Basil the Great by Gregory of Nyssa. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: RAaugr.rtf

Hegel and Sartre
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This 3 page paper provides information on some basic concepts to come from each of these philosophers. This paper is broken down into two sections, one for each philosopher. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: SA448two.rtf

Heidegger on Religion
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A 3 page essay that discusses what Heidegger means in his text Contributions to Philosophy (From Enowning) when he talks about religion and God. The writer argues that this text appears to honor the concept of religious transcendentalism while arguing against conventional religious perspectives. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khenown.rtf

How Religion Supplies Answers Science Cannot Answer
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This 8 page report discusses the questions and answers of human existence as understood by four eminent 20th century scholars in the fields of religion, sociology, politics and public life. The basics of the thinking of Charles Davis, Leszek Kolakowski, Bryan S. Turner, and William H. Swatos are considered within the topic stated in the title of this report. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: BWanswer.rtf

How Should One Live?
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A 6 page discussion of the importance of religion in directing our lives, in allowing us to deal with such questions as: How shall I treat myself? What is the most accurate and helpful view of my own nature? How shall I relate to other persons? What is the role of interpersonal relations in the good life? How shall I respond to the natural world? What is the significance of nature for the good life? How shall I deal with pain, suffering, guilt, loneliness, fear and other such experiences? And especially: How shall I respond to death? How may I come to feel psychologically or spiritually at home in the universe? How or where may I gain strength, direction, and an uplifting of my spirit? Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: PPliveHw.rtf

Humanity's Fate: Free Will Or Determinism?
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7 pages in length. Is one's life determined or is it the result of free will? In establishing the answer to this question, it is essential that one understand the difference between the two representations. When one is cast forward by way of determinism, it is as though one has absolutely no control over the various and sundry occurrences that take place during one's life. Free will, on the other hand, speaks to the concept of having full authority over one's aspirations and ultimate direction, reflecting the exact opposite of those ruled by determinism. Having adequately grasped the meaning behind these divergent perspectives, it can easily be argued that life is one's own responsibility; instead of leaving all things up to fate, an individual has a significant influence upon his or her own existence. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: TLCfrewl.wps

Hume and Aquinas: Perspectives on Religion
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A 5 page paper which presents the philosophical views of David Hume and Thomas Aquinas on religion. The paper argues for both sides of beliefs, but essentially sides with the views of David Hume. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: RAhumaquin.wps

Hume and Causation:
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This 7 page paper examines the importance of causation to Hume's philosophy. This paper references 'An Enquiry to Human Understanding' in order to draw the necessary parallel's. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: GSHuEnqu.rtf

Hume and Spinoza Compared
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This 6 page paper compares the two philosophers in terms of their ideas. There is a focus on morality and the existence of God. Similarities found between the two is the focus of this paper. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: SA010Hum.rtf

Hume's Ideas about Freedom and Free Will
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This 5 page paper looks at Hume's theories and also at the concept of freedom as well as free will. How free will and determination can exist in unison is also noted. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: SA317fw.rtf

Hume's Teleological Approach and the Existence of God
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This 3 page paper supports the existence of God using the argument from design. Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is discussed. No bibliography.
Filename: SA342Hum.rtf

Hume/Cosmological Argument
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A 3 page essay that examines David Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, in which Hume pictures three speakers arguing over whether or not it can be proven that God exists. The writer examines the cosmological argument for the existence of God as Hume presents it in part IV. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khhucos.rtf

Hume’s Dialogue Updated
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A 4 page essay that offer a modern English translation of a portion of David Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khhumtrn.rtf

Idealism
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This is a 6 page paper discussing the philosophical concept of “idealism”. The concept of “idealism” has changed greatly over the course of the last several centuries but the most basic premises were on those proposed by George Berkeley in the early 18th century. Basically idealism is the theory that physical things are sensations of the mind and no idea, physical thing or sensation exists outside of the mind. This being said, philosophers had difficulty with the complete acceptance of all things only existing through sensations and ideas. Because of this idealism was not necessarily adopted wholly but its concepts were adopted partially and included in several other conceptual theories including “critical idealism” advocated by Immanuel Kant, Hopkins theories which combined idealism with materialism, and the more recent applications such as political idealism and realistic idealism. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: TJideal1.rtf

Immanuel Kant:
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This 5 page paper provides a brief biography of Immanuel Kant as well as providing insight into his basic philosophies. This paper also highlights Kant's approach to education and why he believed it was important. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: GSImKant.rtf

Immanuel Kant’s “Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone”
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This 5 page report discusses the thinking of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) who is often described as one of the greatest of all philosophers in relationship to what he wrote and thought about religion and the “religion of morality.” In Kant’s opinion, the moral point of view is impartial and favors no particular individual. Morality requires an individual, according to Kant, that he or she act on a maxim that they can universalize, in other words that his or her reasons for a certain action could be considered valid for anyone in a comparable situation. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: BWkanrel.wps

Incompatibilism, free will and determinism
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A paper which considers the possibility of reconciling determinism with free will, with reference to causality and moral responsibility, and looks at the opposing theories of compatibilism and incompatibilism.
Filename: JLcompat.rtf

Is Belief In God Reasonable?
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An 7 page paper. The specific question addressed is: If humans believe in God does that mean that belief in God is reasonable? To be reasonable would imply that the "anything" actually exists. The writer presents arguments from philosophers and scientists for the existence of God and makes a conclusion as to the reasonableness of the belief in God. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: PGblvre.wps

Is God Good?
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A 5 page paper which examines whether or not God can be good considering that evil exists and people suffer. The paper examines Augustine’s argument concerning this topic as well. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Filename: RAaugg2.rtf

Is It Reasonable To Believe That God Exists?
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6 pages in length. Of all the contemplative questions for which people struggle to find answers, none can be as immense or elusive as whether or not God exists. Supporters contend there is absolutely no doubt as to His existence and to question the validity of this claim is to question one's own existence. Others, however, require more than mere verbal validation in order to find it reasonable to believe that God exists, which is why myriad debates on the subject end up focusing upon a more palpable approach to supporting God's legitimacy. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: TLCGodEx.rtf

Is There a God?
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This 5 page paper asks whether we have created the concept of God as a means of rationalizing and dealing with death. It explores the philosophy of Leibniz and the research findings that led Francis Crick to abandon his hypothesis that the origin of life from some grand primordial soup is valid. Failing all else, we can give up and believe that the universe originated at the hand of an intelligent and benevolent Creator. Plato’s belief that a single soul occupies many bodies gives us a basis for the ongoing nature of the soul. It is not necessary to create a God for the same purpose. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: KSGodExists.rtf

Is There a God?: Philosophers
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A 4 page paper which examines the thoughts of three philosophers as it relates to the existence of God. The philosophers examined are Kant, Descartes, and Rousseau. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: RAgodph.rtf

Jacques Maritain: How Relevant Are His Ideas To Teaching Religious Education In The Contemporary Context?
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10 pages in length. The relevancy of Jacques Maritain's ideas in the context of contemporary religious teachings speaks to the fundamental nature of Thomism, inasmuch as Maritain was firmly rooted in St. Thomas and the works of his major commentators. Working a significant amount from the philosophies of Aquinas, Maritain's ideas would incorporate quite well into the basic tenets of today's religious teachings. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: TLCjacqu.wps

James Cagney: Free Will and Determinism
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A 5 page paper which discusses the attitudes and beliefs of James Cagney, in relationship to his life. Cagney did not take credit for his success nor for his apparent happiness, claiming that it was perhaps determined. His attitudes and beliefs are discussed in relationship to three philosophers who addressed the conditions of free will and determinism. The philosophers are Baron D’Holbach, Walter T. Stace, and Richard Taylor. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: RAcagney.wps

Jean Paul Sartre’s Understanding of the Relationship Between Freedom and Responsibility
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This 5 page report discusses philosopher Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980)who offered the world a different vision regarding the nature of the individual’s responsibility for him or herself. The report addresses Sartre’s point of view regarding personal freedom and responsibility. He believed that: “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself. Such is the first principle of existentialism.” Of course, if choice is completely open-ended, if freedom means entitlement to do and every kind of action that can be imagined, how would such freedom have an impact on human beings in terms of how they exist in the social realm that includes other human beings? Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: BWfreeun.rtf

Jean Paul Sartre’s “The Wall”
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This 5 page report discusses Jean Paul Sartre’s short story, “The Wall,” which takes place during the 1930s in the era of the Spanish Civil War. Three men are arrested, placed on trial, and sentenced to death for rather nebulous political reasons. The authorities are prepared to execute people for little or no reason whatsoever, and this lack of causality -- so predominant in existentialism -- is a favorite theme of Sartre’s. “The Wall” serves as an excellent example of existential writing in that we are what we are, what happens, happens, and what you see is what you get. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: BWjpswal.rtf