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

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 maintains that punishment can be justified even if determinism is true.

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