Free will is the belief that human actions are not necessarily the result of any set of causal conditions. In other words, free will allows the individual to make decisions without the constraint of fate. For example, free will gives you the choice of whether you want to eat toast for breakfast and extends to whether you want to attend class. It tells us that no external factor affects our decision-making process. However, many believe that external factors affect the way we make our decisions, in which determined factors affect our everyday actions. This leads to the question of whether free will exists, based on the opposing perspective that determined factors affect our everyday decisions. There are multiple positions on the idea of
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This position states that every action we take is the result of a prior cause. Since the hard determinist agrees with causal determinism, this position agrees that we do not have free will. According to James Rachels, the determinist argues that “everything we do is caused by forces over which we have no control. If our actions are caused by forces over which we have no control, we do not act freely. Therefore, we never act freely” (Rachels 478). In this article, Rachels states that everything in the universe functions on determined factors—that choice, free will, and randomness do not exist. To put it another way, let’s use the weather as an example of a determined factor. If we turn on the news or check our phones for the weather conditions, we are able to see the weather by the hour, day, or even the week. We can check the weather before it even occurs! This is because the weather conditions are a determined factor. Another example of hard determinism involves the decision to go to class. Since hard determinism focuses on our actions being determined, we decide to go to class based on a set of reasons. I go to class because my parents are paying a lot of money for my tuition and I have the desire to learn. This determined factor—my parents paying for my education—affects my decision to go to class. Additionally, the hard determinist view tells us that moral responsibility does not exist. This perspective tells us that we are not responsible for our actions if they are not voluntary. As an illustration, let’s look at the outcome of a court trial. If I were to rob a store and put on trial, I would plead not guilty. This is because the hard determinist tells me I am not morally responsible for my actions. Thus, it is illogical that my actions are blame-worthy, that determined factors cause the crime to
This position states that every action we take is the result of a prior cause. Since the hard determinist agrees with causal determinism, this position agrees that we do not have free will. According to James Rachels, the determinist argues that “everything we do is caused by forces over which we have no control. If our actions are caused by forces over which we have no control, we do not act freely. Therefore, we never act freely” (Rachels 478). In this article, Rachels states that everything in the universe functions on determined factors—that choice, free will, and randomness do not exist. To put it another way, let’s use the weather as an example of a determined factor. If we turn on the news or check our phones for the weather conditions, we are able to see the weather by the hour, day, or even the week. We can check the weather before it even occurs! This is because the weather conditions are a determined factor. Another example of hard determinism involves the decision to go to class. Since hard determinism focuses on our actions being determined, we decide to go to class based on a set of reasons. I go to class because my parents are paying a lot of money for my tuition and I have the desire to learn. This determined factor—my parents paying for my education—affects my decision to go to class. Additionally, the hard determinist view tells us that moral responsibility does not exist. This perspective tells us that we are not responsible for our actions if they are not voluntary. As an illustration, let’s look at the outcome of a court trial. If I were to rob a store and put on trial, I would plead not guilty. This is because the hard determinist tells me I am not morally responsible for my actions. Thus, it is illogical that my actions are blame-worthy, that determined factors cause the crime to