Determinism vs Free Will Essay

Abstract In this essay I will define determinism, I will also define free will. I will answer question in a dialogue with and imaginary Socrates. In my dialogue I will give clear and conclusive answers and I will use the socratic method. I will also provide examples when possible, or needed. Determinism vs Free Will Socrates: What is the definition of determinism? April: Determinism is a belief in the inevitability of causation. Everything that happens is the only possible thing that could happen (Baumeister,2009). Socrates: What is the definition of free will? April: Free Will is the ability to freely choose one of several possibile alternatives, to make decisions the outcome of which is and cannot be known in advance (Voss,2007). Socrates: Do you agree that every event has an explanatory cause? April: Yes I do, Everything happens for a reason. Socrates: How do you define event? April: I would define even as something that happens. For example like a birth or a wedding. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: How do you define explanatory cause? April: An explanatory cause is the assumption that every event in the universe including our own actions, can be explained and understood. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: Do you agree that every human choice or event has an explanatory cause? April: Yes I absolutely agree, because every human choice and action has an explanatory cause. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: How do you define human choice? April: Human choice is the choice of humans to make a decision that is free of outside influences, because we (people) are the only ones responsible for the decisions we make every day. Socrates: How do you define human event? April: Human events are the things (events) that happens to human beings in their life, like getting married, having children, going to college, and even death. Socrates: Are they different? April: Yes, I think human choice and human event are different, because human choice is the decision you make, and human event is what will happen from your decision. For example you go on a date with this guy (human choice) and then you two fall in love and get married (human event). Socrates: Do you agree that to have an explanatory cause is to not be free? April: No, because that would mean that no human choice or action would be free and as a reaction to that there would be no choices or actions. (Solomon,2010) Socrates: How do you define free? April: Freedom means that we can deliberate about what to do, it means that the future seems â€Å"opened†, it also entails that we should be praised and blamed for our actions, since we have a choice. (Cuddy,2008) Socrates: Do you think that free will and determinism can coexist in anyway? April: Yes, I believe that free will and determinism can coexist, because even though we have free will and can do what we want, when we want, at the same time our freedom has rules (laws) that are there to guide us and let us know what is right and wrong. (Sturman,2013) Socrates: Is it possible to have external determinism and internal free will? April: Well, I think that maybe it is possible to have external determinism, but not possible to have internal free will, because no such thing as internal or external free will exist, however though external determinism does exist and it refers to the external influences that are out of our control. For example say that a successful and rich movie star has a child, that child will grow up and be a rich and successful movie star also. (Solomon,2010). In conclusion free will and determinism is something that will always be questioned by different people for years to come, but for now here is my beliefs in this dialogue with an imaginary Socrates. I defined determinism and free will and I also answered many questions from Socrates, and inconclusively yes determinism and free will can coexist and i have realized we are not complately free because we have rules (laws) to follow and abide by. For the most part we are the people we are because of determinism and free will. References Baumeister, Ray (2009). Cultural Animal. How we find Meaning in Life. Retrieved from https://www. psychologytoday. com Cuddy, Luke (2008). Determinism vs Freewill. Retrieved from https://www. neo-philosophy. com Solomon, R. C. , Higgins, K. M. (2010). The Big Questions. A Short Introduction to Philosophy. Retrieved from https://www. coursesmart. com Sturman, Henry. (2013). Freewill and Determinism. Retrieved from https://www. henrysturman. com/articles/freewill. html Voss, Peter. (2007). The Nature of Freewill. Retrieved from https://www.. optimal. org/peter/freewill. html.