Spinoza & Other Determinists.

The article discusses the concept of free will and determinism from the perspectives of different philosophers and theologians. It begins with a quote from Baruch Spinoza, a Dutch philosopher, who argues that human freedom is an illusion and that all actions are determined by causes. The article then explores Stephen Hawking's opinion on free will and his proposal to abolish the legal concept of diminished responsibility. The author also compares the deterministic philosophies of Spinoza, Augustine, Calvin, and Makkhali Gosala, highlighting their differences and similarities. Overall, the article provides a nuanced examination of the topic of free will and determinism from various perspectives. [Extracted from the article]