Unraveling the politics behind our rides
Every person on the planet makes decisions every day that push them towards an uncertain future. Whether they make the smallest choices or the largest changes, each moment sees them standing at a crossroads, where each path promises a different future. With each direction taken, there is confidence that the choice is always theirs to make. But is it? Over the centuries, the concept of free will has fascinated and perplexed great minds, and in the world of philosophy these questions have circled the drain for millennia.
Do we truly have control over the choices we make, or are our decisions shaped by invisible forces? Are we genuinely free, or are we simply following a script written long before we arrived on the stage? Click through this gallery to see what answers philosophy can provide.
Simple decisions like what to eat for breakfast seem like acts of free will. Whether you choose cereal, toast, or eggs, the choice reflects your ability to make decisions based on personal preferences.
Career choices (such as becoming a doctor or artist) involve deep reflection on personal skills, passions, and values. These decisions may feel like exercises of free will, but, in fact, external factors influence them. So how much autonomy do humans really have?
Even in moments where decisions feel voluntary, numerous external factors (like upbringing, societal norms, education, and available resources) shape our actions. These outside influences complicate the idea that people have of completely free decision-making.
Various scientific and philosophical arguments contest free will. They argue that genetics and environmental factors largely shape human actions, which suggests that many choices are predetermined before people are even aware of them.
Ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle explored free will regularly and offered different interpretations. Plato saw inner harmony as a way to overcome uncontrollable impulses, while Aristotle emphasized that most human actions are voluntary.
Plato (428–348 BCE) believed that if individuals achieved inner harmony, they would act only in ways that their conscience deemed morally right. This perspective implies that free will is linked to moral self-awareness and virtuous behavior.
Aristotle (384–322 BCE) distinguished between actions that are forced and those that are voluntary, suggesting that most human behaviors are voluntary. He believed that people generally act freely, which makes their actions subject to moral judgment.
Medieval theologians like St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas intertwined free will with religious belief. Augustine tied free will to the Problem of Evil, which asks how evil can exist in the presence of an all-powerful God. On the other hand, Thomas Aquinas saw free will as a means to achieve moral virtue in accordance with God’s plan.
St. Augustine (354–430 CE) explained that evil exists because people misuse their free will. He often cited biblical stories as examples of this, such as Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Augustine believed that moral failures come from personal choice.
In Christianity, the story of Adam and Eve is central to discussions of free will. The question of whether they freely chose to eat the forbidden fruit highlights the tension between people’s responsibility and divine predestination.
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) argued that free will is necessary for individuals to pursue ultimate good and make virtuous choices. He believed that moral freedom was a way to enact God’s divine plan.
Philosophers have long debated free will. Figures like Plato advocated for individual choice as a basis for free will, while others like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas suggested that divine influence or moral limitations might restrict true human freedom.
Determinism is a viewpoint of philosophy that argues that all events (including human actions) are caused by preexisting factors. Thinkers like Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz believed that everything, from physical laws to human behavior, follows a predictable, determined path.
In Newtonian physics (the science outlined by Isaac Newton, pictured), every physical movement in the universe follows strict laws and leaves no room for freedom or choice. Determinists often apply this concept to human actions and suggest that everything people do is predetermined and beyond their control.
Determinists trace human existence back to events like the Big Bang and evolutionary processes. They argue that the choices people make today are shaped by forces like genetics, upbringing, and social environment.
Determinists claim free will is meaningless because everything is predestined by prior causes. If all human actions are predictable, free will doesn’t exist, and people can’t be truly responsible for their choices or behavior.
Some philosophers argue that free will and determinism can coexist, which is known as compatibilism. Philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, and Kant believed that even if actions are influenced by external factors, humans can still exercise free will if their actions align with their internal beliefs and desires.
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) spoke often about voluntarism, which is the belief that external influences have a role to play in the lives of people, yet strong inner will can still emerge. This suggests that free will is partially shaped by both external and internal factors.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) introduced the concept of a "will to power," arguing that people act out of a desire for dominance and self-assertion. This view proposes that human behavior is driven by an inherent force rather than pure free will.
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980) argued that free will creates a burden of responsibility for individuals, as they must constantly make choices. He referred to this as "anguish," and emphasized the weight of freedom in shaping one’s destiny.
Recent scientific discoveries, particularly in neuroscience, challenge the concept of free will. A famous study conducted by neuroscientist Benjamin Libet suggests that decisions are made subconsciously before individuals become aware of them.
In Libet’s experiment, participants were asked to press a button while their brain activity was being recorded. The records showed that the decision to press the button occurred before participants consciously decide to move. The experiment raised questions about whether free will is an illusion.
Neurological studies have shown that brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin (which are linked to reward and pleasure) play a key role in decision-making. This suggests that choices might be biologically driven rather than consciously made.
Research on Parkinson’s disease patients reveals that dopamine and serotonin responses still occur during decision-making. This complicates the idea of voluntary decision-making, since biology still appears to influence people’s choices even when they have a cognitive disease.
Although neurological experiments suggest that free will may not exist, it’s important not to overgeneralize. Human decision-making is complex, and current studies may not fully capture the nuances of how we make choices.
If free will doesn’t exist, this would mean that all actions are predetermined. In this case, people cannot be held responsible for moral wrongdoing. After all, how can someone be blamed for actions they never truly controlled?
Without free will, the justice system would need to reconsider the purpose of punishment. If people commit crimes due to predetermined factors, there may be no justification for punishing individuals who had no control over their actions.
The question of whether free will exists remains unresolved. Philosophers, scientists, and theologians continue to debate its existence and implications. This ongoing discussion encourages deeper exploration of human autonomy and the nature of decision-making.
Regardless of the conclusion, contemplating the nature of free will offers valuable insights into human behavior and society. Understanding the complexities behind our choices can truly help us better comprehend ourselves and our world.
Sources: (TheCollector) (Britannica) (Scientific American)
Does free will actually exist?
It’s much more complicated than you might think
LIFESTYLE Philosophy
Every person on the planet makes decisions every day that push them towards an uncertain future. Whether they make the smallest choices or the largest changes, each moment sees them standing at a crossroads, where each path promises a different future. With each direction taken, there is confidence that the choice is always theirs to make. But is it? Over the centuries, the concept of free will has fascinated and perplexed great minds, and in the world of philosophy these questions have circled the drain for millennia.
Do we truly have control over the choices we make, or are our decisions shaped by invisible forces? Are we genuinely free, or are we simply following a script written long before we arrived on the stage? Click through this gallery to see what answers philosophy can provide.