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Free Will Vs. Determinism the Term Paper
Pages:5 (1280 words)
Sources:1+
Subject:Personal Issues
Topic:Free Will
Document Type:Term Paper
Document:#33879433
On the other hand, those who subscribe to the theory of free will believe that life's events are a direct result of the person's own self-generated actions. It is the philosophical idea that a person is able to choose from a variety of real alternatives, and depending on which alternative is chosen, it is this choice that ultimately determines the outcome ("Free Will"). In Christian theology, free will involves the belief that it is through God's gift to humankind that they have the ability and desire to make choices, commitments, etc., and are not forced to take predetermined actions due to external causes.
The self-determination of a rational being is free will (Passantino & Passantino).
Free will, or autonomy, theorists believe that every event in existence is exclusive of all others, and therefore allows for unlimited possibilities of choice. Free will is found throughout all cultures and is also a founding belief to society's ethical and legal systems (Davies). In fact, the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics has led many free will theorists to believe that quantum theory disproves physical determinism ("Quantum Mechanics").
With free will, a person has true freedom of action without restraint. Autonomy allows for wielding of control through causal relations. Although these causalities present restraints, in free will, they do not prevent a person from having freedom of action. An analogy may be that gravity limits the conditions under which a person can fly, however, gravity does not actually prevent a person from flying. It is the same with free will and causal relations.
Of course there are time and dynamics that come into consideration when discussing how much control a person has on their actions, and therefore their future destiny. In some scenarios, decisions have to be made instantaneously, and the decision making process must be so rapid, decisions have to come as second nature. In these cases, decisions are dramatically affected by the experiences the individual has acquired, over the course of their lifetime. These are automatic responses, that do not allow for anything other than an instinctual response.
Flight or fight responses are a perfect example of this type of scenario. In these instances, there is not time for a deliberate decision making process. Human instinct and intution take over control of the person's actions, allowing the body to respond as quickly as possible. Free will, in these circumstances, is an improbability at best. If one were to encounter the exact same scenario again, and had the exact same history, chances are that the automatic response would be identical.
Yet, under circumstances where a person is allowed to consider other alternatives, and utilize a more rational decision making process, they can make different decisions, which support the theory of free will. There may be a tendency to act in a certain manner, due to a person's unique history and the external environment around them at the time, but there is still a freedom of choice.
An infinte number of choices are available to a person at any given moment. Just as in flight, although causal relations may restrict these choices, they do not prevent them from existing, therefore, although a person may be predisposed to making certain decisions, free will is possible.
References
Compatibilism." Wikipedia.org. 19 July 2004. Wikipedia.org. September 13, 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibilism.
Davies, Paul. "Undermining Free Will." Foreign Policy (144) Sept 2004: 36-38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOHost. University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ. October 30, 2004 http://www.epnet.com.
Fatalism." Wikipedia.org. 28 July 2004. Wikipedia.org. September 13, 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatalism.
Passantino, B. & Passantino, G. Answers.org. 1998. Answers.org. September 13, 2004 http://www.answers.org/theology/freeglossary.html.
Quantum Mechanics." Wikipedia.org. 13 Sept. 2004. Wikipedia.org. September 13, 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics.
Sample Source(s) Used
References
Compatibilism." Wikipedia.org. 19 July 2004. Wikipedia.org. September 13, 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibilism.
Davies, Paul. "Undermining Free Will." Foreign Policy (144) Sept 2004: 36-38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOHost. University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ. October 30, 2004 http://www.epnet.com.
Fatalism." Wikipedia.org. 28 July 2004. Wikipedia.org. September 13, 2004 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatalism.
Passantino, B. & Passantino, G. Answers.org. 1998. Answers.org. September 13, 2004 http://www.answers.org/theology/freeglossary.html.
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