Stace (1886-1967) Attempts to Reconcile Free Will with Causal Determinism

question 9

True/False

Stace (1886-1967) attempts to reconcile free will with causal determinism. He takes the position that William James labeled "soft determinism" (compatibilism). We must have free will to be held morally responsible, and yet it seems plausible that all our actions are caused. How can these two apparently inconsistent ideas be brought together? Stace argues that the problem is merely a verbal dispute and that, rightly understood, there is no inconsistency in holding to both doctrines. Free actions are those we do voluntarily, whereas unfree actions are those we do involuntarily.
-Stace believes that determinism is inconsistent with free will.

---

Definitions:

Age Cohort

A group of individuals who share similar time of birth, experiencing similar societal events and life stages at approximately the same time.

Ambivalence

The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

Debilitating Illness

A disease or condition that significantly impairs the physical or mental ability of an individual, affecting their day-to-day functioning.

Paid Labor Force

People who are in employment and get paid for their labor, unlike volunteers or those interning without pay.