Controversy between free will and determinism
In this essay, you will address the controversy between free will and determinism. You will go deeper into the problem of determinism by choosing whether it is the predictabilityor the unpredictabilityof our actions that pose a bigger threat to free will. Using passages from the textbook, explain in detail what determinism is and why determinism threatens the idea of free will.
Now consider these two opposite points of view about our ability to predict behavior:
1. Everything you do is predictable to those who know you well. This predictability means your life is determined by choices beyond your control—Paraphrase from Vaughn, p.268
2. “He sat a long time and he thought about his life and how little of it he could have foreseen and he wondered for all his will and all his intent how much of it was his doing.”—Cormac McCarthy (reprinted in Vaughn, p.265)
Explain what these two points of view mean and then give your own reasoned opinion about which point of view is correct. Defend your answer.
Sample Solution
Determinism is a philosophical theory which states that all events, whether in the physical or mental realm, are predetermined by prior causes. It follows then that since these events have been pre-determined they can be predicted with absolute certainty; thus causing an inherent conflict between determinism and free will.
The idea of determinism has been around for centuries but it wasn’t until recently that new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning allowed us to take a much closer look at this concept and how it affects our understanding of free will. According to determinists, if everything we do is predetermined then there is no room for choice or moral responsibility. This poses a major problem because it means that humans cannot be held accountable for their actions since they had no say in what happens next.
On one hand some argue that the predictability of our actions posed by determinism makes us less responsible for them however others point out unpredictability associated with spontaneous decisions does not guarantee freedom either due lack control over unknown outcomes these choices may cause(Kane 2018). In other words although seemingly more liberating than its counterpart unpredictability still leaves individuals feeling powerless when comes making meaningful changes their lives due fact results are never guaranteed.
In conclusion, while both predictability and unpredictability present potential issues regarding freedom under deterministic models ultimately neither offer individuals complete autonomy as seen through traditional view of free will confining them instead only illusive sense control over own fate.( White 1999)
