Understanding Human Action: Elements, Freedom, and Determinism

Human Action

Human action is a conscious and voluntary act caused by human behavior, resulting in a specific event. It must be personal, intentional, and conscious. Human actions have several key elements:

• Intention: The conscious trends and acceptance by the subject that initiate an action. Intentions are mental and can only be inferred by others.
• Purpose: The aim that the subject consciously and explicitly tries to achieve through the action.
• Motivation: The combination of intention and purpose that drives the action. Motivation is the effect of the action.
• Consequences: The events or states caused by the action. Consequences depend on the resources used and the knowledge possessed. Unintended consequences are common and raise the issue of the subject's responsibility.
• Meaning: The overall reason that allows us to understand why and how an action occurs.

Human action can be categorized into:

• Individual Actions: Performed by a single agent.
• Collective Actions: Performed cooperatively by multiple agents following a common purpose.

Freedom of Action

Freedom of action is the ability to act in a social setting without impediments.

• External Theoretical or Negative Freedom: The absence of obstacles hindering an action.
• External Practical or Positive Freedom: The presence of conditions and means that enable an action, in addition to the absence of impediments.

Internal Freedom or Free Will

Internal freedom or free will is the ability to choose without external restrictions. It is the mental freedom to think or want, pertaining to the moral or personal realm.

• Internal Negative Freedom: The absence of restrictions on our ability to choose an action.
• Internal Positive Freedom: The presence of necessary information and knowledge to make a choice, in addition to the absence of restrictions.

Internal freedom is the choice, and external freedom is the possibility to act on that choice without societal prevention.

Determinism

Determinism is a philosophical concept that denies the existence of freedom, arguing that all actions are necessarily caused by prior events.

• Physical Determinism: Argues that all actions can be explained by natural laws.
• Genetic Determinism: Argues that our genetic code determines all our actions and decisions.
• Social Determinism: Argues that social, environmental, educational, cultural, familial, and economic factors determine our behavior.
• Theological Determinism or Fatalism: Argues that a supernatural entity or force determines all human actions.

Indeterminism

Indeterminism is the philosophical concept that claims our actions are not entirely predetermined but are influenced by reasons or motives. Indeterminists believe that freedom is self-evident through direct experience and is necessary for the concept of responsibility.