Free Will Vs. Determinism

Free Will Vs. Determinism

The argument of Free Will as opposed to Determinism is essentially conflicting views on causality and the capability of human beings to choose the most desirable outcome from a variety of options. While causality is true for inanimate objects, as well as animals, man has the ability to choose to live in a way which is most appealing to them. Determinists however, argue that man is not an exception to this rule, and that our decisions as human beings are direct results of our exposure to a certain environment. According to Determinists, decisions are nothing more than differing influences of varying experiences battling in our mind. A proper understanding of mans capability of conscious choice and decision and intention can firmly defeat the argument that mans decisions are nothing more than the influence of his environment.

Determinists believe our decisions are controlled by previous exposure to differing situations and environments and that each and every one of our actions is caused by a specific prior action or cause. (a occurs because of b, b occurs because of c..etc) In the opinion of a determinist, man is no exception to this rule and therefore we are not "free" due to our actions being a result of a previous cause. If we are to argue that this in fact is true, than we as human beings can not be held accountable for our actions, as we have no control over them, they are automatic. Similar to how a dogs actions are automatic, a dog is punished for disobeying, yet not held responsible for its actions, because the dogs action (say biting a person) is a direct result of a prior cause (animal abuse). Punishment in this case would be merely to change the beings habit, not to provide justice. However this is not the case, when a human commits an act, they are held responsible for their actions because unlike animals, humans can choose their actions, how to live, where to live, or to live in general.

Indeterminists claim that there is an exception to the rule of causation, that despite there being a cause to an outcome, that outcome is not the sole possibility. (a, b, or c, will occur because of d) Often God plays the role of this exception, He provides a base free from the rules of causation, providing the ability of choice. Although this opinion is a common ground between Determinism and Free Will it is arguing that human choice is completely random, however this theory of randomness does not demonstrate free will, because how does a random act demonstrate our free will? A human being who acts in a random manner is crazy, not free. We therefore cannot argue free will being defined as the ability to act randomly with