For centuries, philosophers have wrestled with the dispute of whether human actions are performed "in freedom" or not. “It is “the most controversial question in metaphysics, the most controversial science” (Hume 528). In section VIII of An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Hume turns his attention regarding the necessary connection to the arguments "Of Freedom and Necessity". Although the two topics may be one of the most debatable issues in philosophy, Hume suggests that the difficulties and controversies surrounding freedom (i.e., free will) and necessity (i.e., causal determinism) are simply a matter that the disputants do not have adequately defined their terms. He states that all people, “whether educated or ignorant, have always been of the same opinion concerning this subject, and that a few intelligible definitions would immediately put an end to the whole controversy” (Hume 522). Hume's overall strategy in Section VIII is to stick to his own claim and carefully define "freedom" and "necessity" and challenge contemporary associations of the terms by demonstrating that they are compatible. As a result of his earlier focus on necessity in Section VII, Hume's tactic in this section is to repeat his thoughts on the nature of necessity. He begins by examining “what we like to call physical necessity” (Hume 526) and attempts to present an argument for how human actions are necessary (i.e. causally determined). According to Hume there are laws in nature which are “carried out by necessary forces, and that every natural effect is so precisely determined by the energy of its cause that no other effect, under such particular circumstances, could result from it” ( Humé 523). Hume to...... middle of paper...... Hume proposes to ascribe a sense of moral responsibility lost in Hume's interpretation of the doctrine of liberty and necessity, since human beings are responsible only for their choices . In the debate regarding freedom (i.e. free will) and necessity (i.e. causal determinism), Hume places himself firmly in the compatibilist camp arguing that both notions can be reconciled. Although some of the arguments presented in the Inquiry are unconvincing, Hume nevertheless contributes to compatibilism by defining free will and determinism in such a way as to avoid the logic of the incompatibilist position. Works CitedHume, David. An investigation into the human intellect. Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources. Roger Ariew and Eric Watkins. Indianapolis: HackettPublishing Company, 1998. 522-532. Press.