A Disquisition of the Natural Determinism of Man in Paul Henri Thiry (Baron) d’Holbach

Abstract

This paper aims at critically evaluating Holbach’s concept of the natural determinism of man, which when juxtaposed with human freewill exposes the limitations of the latter and renders freewill illusory. This is because the idea of freewill is predicated upon the assumption that man possesses the ability to make choices and decisions that are devoid of external predispositions either by his environment, genetic factors or even God. If man’s decisions are so uninfluenced then he is morally responsible for his actions and inactions. Conversely, determinism holds that human behaviors are influenced by certain causal laws which render freewill a farce and an illusion. Hard determinists like Holbach maintains that man’s belief in the freedom of his will is borne out of his ignorance of what transpires in his soul during dilemmatic choice making occasions. However, this study, which adopts the literary analysis and expository methods of enquiry, takes a philosophical leaning on metaphysical libertarianism, which allows for man’s freedom, responsibility and a fortiori such that the past does not determine a unique future. The researchers therefore suggest that freewill is a reality, which is compatible with soft determinism and without which we find that liberty which underpins our laws and the rationale behind the law, punishments and even rewards are diminished.