The argument of free will and determinism has created a complex debate between many philosophers over the years. Some philosophers believe that we are in control of our own actions, while others believe that every action or event that occurs is already determined. For the purpose of this essay, a definition will be provided for both terms in order to further understand these concepts. Free will is defined as “the power or capacity to choose among alternatives, or to act in certain situations independently of natural, social, or divine restraints.” (Britannica 2017).
It is important to note that free will isn’t the same as freedom. Freedom on its own refers to one’s physical freedom, such as being behind bars, while free will connotes the freedom of the mind. On the other hand, the contradicting theory to free will is pre-determinism, which is defined as “all events, including moral choices, are completely determined by previously existing causes” (Britannica 2016). Pre-determinism is the foundation of psychological and behaviourists views.
For instance, our genetic makeup is what some biologists determine as our “basic human behaviour” (Stroll 2006). Furthermore, without the concept of pre-determinism, then therapists would not have any foundation to help us get past our problems, which are determined through our attitudes and experiences. Many religious groups would argue that free will is a foundation for morality, however, there is no actual proof that God exists for us to take the word of the Bible.
Despite the fact many of us tend to believe that we have free will over our actions, it is simply the illusion of being able to make these choices willingly. We do not wish to accept this conclusion because if it is true, then there is no meaning to life. It is the past events that shape our upcoming behaviour, attitudes and actions, which are predetermined through a causal chain.
References
- Britannica – Free Will
- NCBI – Genetic Determinism and Free Will
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Free Will and Determinism
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Causal Determinism: Dual Theory
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Causal Determinism: Necessitation, Conditions, and Events Generating Local One-Version-Track Sequences (EV-L)
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Causal Determinism: Defined Multi-Track N-Version Programs, Additional One-Version Track Completion with Non-Deterministic Additive, Eventual and Finite Failure, Hard Majority Voting, Program Quoting, Schools of Thought
