The philosopher Paul Henri Holbach believed that our actions are caused by our strongest motives. When he mentions motives, he is talking about the personal desires and urges that we all have. Our motives are generated in the physical states of our brains, which causes our brain to react to stimuli. His major argument is that we cannot control our brain, and how it will react to different stimuli. Therefore, we cannot control what motives we will have that cause us to do actions that we do. So, because of this Holbach believes we lack free will.
Personally, I agree with Holbach’s argument that we lack free will. The reason I personally agree is I found that my motives are just naturally a part of me. I never find myself having to put any thought
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If a choice/action isn’t under our own control then it must be determined by something else. This is where impulses from our motives come into play to “influence” our choices. He argues “When he does not act according to this impulse, it is because there comes some new cause, some new motive, some new idea, which modifies his brain in a different manner, gives him a new impulse, determines his will in another way, by which the action of the former impulse is suspended.” This means that if one motive is suspended another one will take its place to determine our will. He strongly states that the actions of a man are never free, but are always the consequence of their temperament, received ideas, and notions in which individuals form to oneself. He believes that there is always a new cause for a new motive that will influence us when making a choice. Therefore, free will is just an illusion individuals like to believe.
What also supports Holbach’s claim is that every individual will react differently to stimuli. We all are wired differently, meaning our thinking is different as well. Other people’s motives are already planted in their brain just like mine are already planted in mine. Sure, I can think of reasons on why I have an urge or desire something, but somehow, my brain already knows that I like something once I see it. I can’t explain why I ever started to have an urge or desire for something in the first