Holbach starts his argument by stating the essence of …show more content…
A man who is thirsty desires to drink water. However, when someone tells him that water before him is toxic, he will not drink it at all, because the fear of death prevails the pain of thirsty. Both motives are for protecting himself, and the one with better effect has to be chosen. Then if the man is told that he could live longer if he drinks the poisoned water, he will drink it, since this time the pain of thirsty outranges the fear of death. In both cases, the two actions are equally necessary. They are the effect of the stronger motive. The whole story proves that if a new subject or a new idea comes out to attract a man more strongly compared to the old ones, he will be given a new route for his will. Thus, our wills’ forming and changing are not by ourselves. Furthermore, Holbach claims that the groups of people who behave differently from the ordinary people neither have their free wills. For instance, the playboys, they choose the way of living different from the others. This is because the motives of doing that are more attractive to