Free Will & Determinism

Do you believe that everything that is happening in this world is determined to happen? Or it could be possibly changed if the time was rewound?

If you agree more with the latter, you are likely to believe in free will; if you agree more with the former, you are likely to believe in determinism!

What is free will?

As the name suggests, free will refers to you having the freedom to do whatever you want.

Free will is characterized by the following:

• Our actions are the product of our own intention and belief. Hence you held moral responsibility for all your actions
• If you have the same or different desire, there is a chance that you will still do other things
• Your choice isn’t pressured by anything. Even though your actions can be influenced by other factors, that ‘something/ other factors’ isn’t the main influence of your actions.
• You are the uncaused cause of your own behaviour

In short, assuming that someone has free will, nothing is predetermined. We have the freedom to create our own destiny and have the power to make any decision at any time.

Libertarian (Contra causal) Free Will

Libertarian free will is one example of free will, it denies that the universe is deterministic. It suggests that determinism is false and both free will and determinism could not coexist. Our decisions are not determined, we can freely choose whatever we want to do. Even though there are influences, they do not fully determine our decisions. When we act, it is the start of a new causal chain⛓️.

What is determinism?

Determinism suggests that everything that is happening is determined to happen. We can’t control our own actions. Everything that happens, including events and behaviours, stems from a cause and is predictable.

Hard Determinism

Determinism is true, but free will is an illusion. Similar to Libertarian free will, hard determinism also suggests that determinism and free will both could not exist at the same time.

The choices are determined by the universe. Since the laws of physics can’t be changed, it means that you can’t change the past, therefore you do not have free will -- because what has happened has already happened, and what is going to happen, will always happen.

Your behaviour and the given choices are all determined. There is only one physically possible future, and it will happen regardless of any changes that you make now.

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However, there is one position that indicates that both free will and determinism could exist at the same time – Compatibilism (Soft Determinism)!

Compatibilism/Soft Determinism

It recognizes and is the combination of both free will and determinism. Compatibilism suggests that everything is indeed determined. However, our actions would be considered as a result of free will if we decided and carried out the actions without being forced (eg. being threatened with a knife🔪). Compatibilism also suggests that free will requires determinism, as some actions are related to your desires and your beliefs (eg. When you have a craving for ice cream, you will buy one!).