Pearl Liang Philosophy 16/11/11 Stimulus Response: Write a plan for your response (of approximately 800 words)

in which you: Identify a central philosophical concept or philosophical issue that addresses the question, What is a human being? Explore two different philosophical approaches to the philosophical concept or philosophical issue you identified Explain and evaluate the philosophical concept or philosophical issue you identified. Introduction: Transcendent being (big hands) Man as a puppet (shows that human beings are dominated by a supreme entity) Man trying to cut loose of the strings (represents mans will to be autonomous) Size of the scissors (small indicating that man can never overpower God) Provokes question what is a human being? Do we have free will? Are our circumstances pre-determined by a supreme being?) The idea that free will is compatible with universal causation is consistent with soft determinism. (St. Augustine) However, it can be argued that predestination and the illusion of moral choice are the forces that backfire the situation. Predestination: Augustine argued for free will, but only as compatible with God's foreknowledge. St. Augustine argued that human will is so corrupt and depraved as a result of The Fall that no human being is capable of performing a good action without the grace of God and the saving acts of Christ. Augustine believed in pre-destination, the belief that only those elected by God could achieve salvation. Since no one knows who has been chosen we should all lead God-fearing lives. Everyone is at Gods mercy. Just because God is omniscient does not mean that we do not have free will. God has foreknowledge of our choices and the decisions we will make. This does not mean man doesnt make decisions freely; rather it emphasizes Gods omnipotence. I infer from the stimulus that the man has no choice, but is merely rebelling against the omnipotent force due to mans ignorant nature. John Locke and his virtues exemplify this.

Pearl Liang Philosophy 16/11/11 John Locke and the Illusion of Moral Choice: John Locke used an analogy in which a sleeping man is locked in a darkened room. On awakening he decides he will remain in the room, unaware that the room is locked. In reality the man has no freedom to choose, he cannot get out of the room. However, his ignorance of his true condition has led him to believe that he does have the freedom to choose to remain in the room. Similarly, the man in the picture deludes himself into believing he can escape, when in reality, it is impossible for him to.