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Free will vs. Determinism

Free will vs. Determinism

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Running Head: FREE WILL VS. DETERMINISM 1

Free will vs. Determinism

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FREE WILL VS. DETERMINISM 2

Introduction

Free will is the ability of a person to decide and behave independently without any

external influence. In this case decision making is only influenced by the will of a person. The

humanistic approach holds that free will determines human behavior through the life of a

person. On the other hand, determinism is the common believe that human behavior is

determined by past events and external forces. Schnauder (2007) asserts that this phenomenon

holds that human behavior is determined by childhood events and that the free will practiced in

adulthood is illusory. Free will is believed to be a gift from God .Free will is crucial in a society

especially the legal system. Free will helps the jury determine pre-meditation hence free will of

commission of a crime by a person. This is the reason for acquitting incapacitated people from

charges leveled against them. The other aspect is that there is a controversy concerning man’s

pre-determination to act in a particular manner. God is sovereign and supreme hence this view

can be held to be true ( Franklin, 2007). However, a discussion outside a theologian confinement,

will establishment that man has free will and can make personal goals in a bid to attain self-

actualization in life. Philosophy has a correlation to man’s feelings, perceptions, responsibilities

and thought processes. In this regard, man must always understand himself before influencing

the environment around him.

Augustine’s view

Augustine advocates for both free will and determinism as determinants of human behaviour.

This owes to the fact of foreknowledge of god pertaining the fall of man. This compelled

Augustine to devise an empirical hypothesis and biblical defence of free will. He argues that

there is compatibility between free will and the sovereignty of God. Campbell, Rourk, and

Shier (2010) posit that free will for the human beings is subject to the human experiences.

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Free will vs. Determinism Name: Course: Date: Introduction Free will is the ability of a person to decide and behave independently without any external influence. In this case decision making is only influenced by the will of a person. The humanistic approach holds that free will determines human behavior through the life of a person. On the other hand, determinism is the common believe that human behavior is determined by past events and external forces. Schnauder (2007) asserts that this phenomenon holds that human behavior is determined by childhood events and that the free will practiced in adulthood is illusory. Free will is believed to be a gift from God .Free will is crucial in a society especially the legal system. Free will helps the jury determine pre-meditation hence free will of commission of a crime by a person. This is the reason for acquitting incapacitated people from charges leveled against them. The other aspect is that there is a controversy concerning man's pre-determination to act in a particular manner. God is sovereign and supreme hence this view can be held to be true ( Franklin, 2007). However, a discussion outside a theologian confinement, will establishment that man has free will and can make personal goals in a bid to attain self-actualization in life. Philosophy has a correlation to man's feelings, perceptions, responsibilities and thought processes. In this regard, man must always understand himself before influencing the en ...
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