Difference between revisions of "Understand Philosophical Determinism"

Do we have free will, or are our actions determined? This is one of the classic questions in philosophy. Deep thinkers have been arguing both sides of this issue for thousands of years. Most people are already familiar with the doctrine of free will. It states that we always have the power to choose our actions, regardless of the circumstances. This view is popular in Western cultures, although it does imply that we as individuals are always in control. However, there is an opposite view - one held by many prominent thinkers. Philosophical determinism holds that we are neither in control, nor capable of true free will. This article is a brief "layman's" introduction to philosophical determinism, and how it differs from the more common belief in free will.

Do we have free will, or are our actions determined? This is one of the classic questions in philosophy. Deep thinkers have been arguing both sides of this issue for thousands of years. Most people are already familiar with the doctrine of free will. It states that we always have the power to choose our actions, regardless of the circumstances. This view is popular in Western cultures, although it does imply that we as individuals are always in control. However, there is an opposite view - one held by many prominent thinkers. Philosophical determinism holds that we are neither in control, nor capable of true free will. This article is a brief "layman's" introduction to philosophical determinism, and how it differs from the more common belief in free will.

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== Steps ==

#Understand what determinism really is. Very simply, determinism is the belief that all events have causes, and that if there are identical causes, the same effects must occur. This is very easy to recognize in the natural world, and much of science is based on deterministic principles. However, it can be difficult to recognize how this applies to human behavior (which most people consider to be separate from the natural world). Further, determinism means that everything is predictable, including the process of making decisions, and that a decision does not occur as a first cause but rather as a result of the predetermined criteria for a specific decision to be made having been met.

#Understand what determinism really is. Very simply, determinism is the belief that all events have causes, and that if there are identical causes, the same effects must occur. This is very easy to recognize in the natural world, and much of science is based on deterministic principles. However, it can be difficult to recognize how this applies to human behavior (which most people consider to be separate from the natural world). Further, determinism means that everything is predictable, including the process of making decisions, and that a decision does not occur as a first cause but rather as a result of the predetermined criteria for a specific decision to be made having been met.