Compatibilism

• Compatibilists believe that determinism and free choice can and do coexist
• Compatibilists accept that some aspects of life are determined, but that free will is also possible
• People have free choice within their life, which has been determined
• People are still deserving of punishment for their wrong actions
• The UK law can be argued to be compatibilist because it takes determined factors into account
• Upbringing and desperation may lead a person to steal, and think stealing is a morally permissible thing to do
• Compatibilists would argue that people should be judged less harshly because of the situation they are in
• People should be punished, while still given the opportunity to change their behaviour through rehabilitation and reform