Essay Example on Free Choice: Susan Wolf's Perspective on Self and Sanity

The free choice generally is the ability of any being to choose. It is the power of making choices that are not externally determined by neither divine will (fate) nor the natural environment. Personally, philosophers have each one of them a different and more profound understanding and perspective of what 'self' is and what compromises of sanity. Their aspect is profoundly and widely composed depending on the view of thinking.

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Susan wolf is one of the philosophers who have considered to have an article, about 30 years old, of the same concern, and she begins with significant ways of dealing with responsibility. She views the perspective of other philosophers about the same deal and differs with them. Gray Watson, Harry Frankfurt, and the Canadian Charles Taylor share the information that responsible personality compromises something bigger than intentional personality. They all mention that their actions do not define responsible persons. Their actions are within the control of their will but because the decrees are not just mental states of a person but expressions of moral strength that come from the person deep within. Moral responsibility is built up by 'deeper self.' Some people lack this more profound self, such as children and drug addicts. Wolf argues that children and drug addicts are responsible for their actions. She says that other than doing according to their desires, they can do otherwise since they have freedom of movement as Harry notes. This freedom of action is to be free and responsible for the action taken.

It brings about the freedom of action and freedom of will as Frankfurt states. Freedom of action is being capable of doing what someone desires to do. It leads to the freedom of willing whatever we feel to will, making the children and drug addicts responsible. However, they cannot be rightly said to have real responsibility and free will. It happens because they ain't acting as expected by the world. Freedom of action or freedom of will are phrases mentioned since, the desire controlling the mind of each individual, will lead them to act as desired, leading to the fact of being responsible with the outcome of the act. Free will comes from our way of creation, thinking. It happens since each one controls his or her thinking for were created beings. Therefore the willing existence doesn't come from 'self-creation' precisely because it is an aspect that we acquire from creation. However, 'self-creation' is a character built within us, defined as 'deeper self' which brings the difference of a young person and an adult. Deeper self-shaped self brings about a person able to make desires that are in 'control.' Frankfurt will disagree with this mention even though to Wolfs, she is right. So, insofar as we may communicate about the reality of deeper self through how we usually will in the world, those who lack it doesn't have proper responsibility. According to Wolf, she is not troubled by the deeper self formulae of freedom. She is ready to make a distinction between those who have and lack access to the deeper self. So as we talk about deeper self, given that, as articulated by philosopher Frankfurt, it is something that we as human be able not to access yet still having the freedom.

Sanity is the ability to be reasonable, behave reasonably, and healthy. It brings about seeing the world rightly, which helps us to be responsible as wolfs states. She says sane deep-self is what brings about childhood thinking and actions and adulthood. For me, what I find quite interesting about Wolf's perspective is not her claim of sanity, but what she implies about the nature of reality. Sanity as a medical word, the term is used to refer to the physical state of our being and how psychologically we ought to think. Wolf tries to internalize and explain her understanding of sanity in all ways possible. I understand, according to her typical concept of sanity, she refers to the world with a meaning and a purpose, bringing it on the table to touch and favor both sides of the idea. Frankfurt and Wolf make confusing meanings between responsibility and liability for anyone to act freely on his/her desires by having free will. Wolfs keep thinking that the conversation of a deeper self does not bring us out of the problem yet. She thinks that deeper self is necessarily part of the casual chain as she figures it out. Wolf's approval about confusing meanings; she shares a small story of Brutal, father and Jojo, the son. She presents by saying that Jojo is the favorite son to Brutal who is a dictator. Brutal showers Jojo, the favorite, with gifts, attention, and love. As Jojo grows, his father introduces him to harmful activities such as murder and torture are traits to be lauded and developed. Jojo acts as he was brought up by his father.

Now the question implies; is Brutal's son responsible for what he does? Is he actively and morally accountable? Well, in Frankfurt's article, we would say that he is fully responsible. Jojo is not a drug addict. He is acting according to the knowledge-set developed the 'deeper self.' Wolf's mentality, Jojo, is responsible and still not mutually responsible. Why is Jojo responsible? According to the view of the world, there is no explanation to mention that it is not his fault, meaning he is responsible for his action. Why is Jojo not responsible? Jojo's growth environment was created and made to be of such a lifestyle, which means that it is not his fault for the actions. It is not the 'deeper self' that has led to such a lifestyle.

Conclusion

The phrase 'free choice' when discussed by philosophers will cause an argument since their way of thinking is beyond the reflection of a normal human being. All ways in every point that has been listed, we find a reasonable explanation to support its validity. Wolf's presentation about responsibility, sanity, and 'deeper self' is qualified by her explanation as well as Frankfurt's points. The best way to understand this concept, according to my understanding, is by thinking widely with an open mind