Whether Free will exists or not, is a question, that has been explored and discussed many times in philosophy. Figuring out what exactly free will is, what it involves, and if it actually exists, is not a matter where common ground is easily found, or ever found. Everyone has at least once asked themselves whether their lives are simply a chain of causal events, whether we truly have a power on freely deciding whether or not we perform an action, or if our lives are controlled by a power that is out of human control, such as God or even fate. An important distinction that has to be made when talking about free will, is also the notion of free action. Can we assume that all "free actions" are the result of our free will?
The goal I am aiming for in this paper, is to show the different perspectives on free will, and how they are not fully convincing. Does free will exist, and if so, what are the requirements for acting freely? The most prominent philosophical perspectives on this topic are determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism, which I will be critically analyzing, while showing the challenges they are facing. As I mentioned already, the discussion about free will and everything else it involves, gives rise to controversy and disagreement. However, what I aim in achieving, is a clear understanding of the problematic of determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism, while also involving the notion of luck, which seems to be forgotten by many philosophers, although it plays an important role in the matter.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction.
- What is 'free will'?
- Determinism
- Libertarianism
- Compatibilism
- What is wrong with these approaches?
- Compatibilism and our intuition
- Libertarianism and luck
- Conclusion.
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to critically analyze the different philosophical perspectives on free will, namely determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism, and demonstrate their limitations. The goal is to shed light on the complexities surrounding the question of free will and its implications for moral responsibility, while acknowledging the inherent difficulties in finding a definitive answer.
- The nature of free will and its relationship to free actions.
- The conflicting perspectives of determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism on free will.
- The role of luck in the context of free will.
- The implications of different perspectives on free will for moral responsibility.
- The challenges and limitations of existing philosophical approaches to understanding free will.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The paper introduces the concept of free will and its connection to free actions and moral responsibility. It highlights the ongoing debate surrounding free will and the lack of consensus on its existence.
- What is 'free will'?: This chapter explores the concept of free will, defining it as the ability to choose between multiple possibilities and act according to one's own wishes. It presents examples illustrating the intuitive understanding of free will and its connection to free actions.
- Determinism: This chapter presents determinism as a philosophical perspective that opposes free will. It explains that determinism posits a fully determined universe, where every event is causally predetermined, thus leaving no room for free will.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Free will, determinism, libertarianism, compatibilism, moral responsibility, luck, free action, philosophical perspectives, challenges, limitations.
- Quote paper
- Sabrina Fiel Abade (Author), 2022, The Existence of "free will", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1362366
