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A "circumstance," in the meaning relevant to this work, carries two senses: (1) a situation totalized and (2) the conditions of the situation that enable us, in many cases, to render a wise decision and select or pick the right choice. In a situation totalized, the choosing agent is placed in a situational bind, and all the intervening factors of the situation point to a choice he or she may not like but has to do: Under the circumstance, I have no choice but to leave you. Here the agent feels compelled in the sense that the alternatives are painful or unacceptable. In normal situations, the choosing agent feels free to make a choice between or among alternatives. He weighs the pros and cons, merits and demerits, pluses and minuses of each option and render a "free" decision or make a "free" choice. In this study, the main burden lies in trying to uncover or clarify in what sense the choice made is said to be "free." What is the role of situational conditions in the act of choosing? This work should be of interest not only to philosophers, social scientists, and lawyers, but to everyone since they make decisions and choices everyday.

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Rolando M. Gripaldo, MA, MPA, PhD; Studied Philosophy, Public Administration, and Philippine Studies at the Mindanao State University and the University of the Philippines. Editor, Philosophia: International Journal of Philosophy and Executive Governor, Philippine National Philosophical Research Society. Published 15 books and over 80 articles.

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