Health and Wellness. IntrovertWorld
The Question of Free Will.
Consciousness isn’t a journey upward, but a journey inward; not a pyramid but a maze. — Westworld
The center of it [or the search for it] leads to two outcomes; the first is insanity, and the second is higher awareness.
Throughout the decades, the question of whether human beings can exercise free will has been openly discussed by psychologists, scientists, and other curious enthusiasts globally.
Questions revolving around this topic include: Does free will exist? To what extent do we have the capability to exercise free will? and Does free will compromise our virtues and moral values?
Philosophers and other researchers have come up with solid arguments to accept or disagree with the concept of human beings being able to express free will.
The discussions, however, are still going on about this concept with every researcher finding new ways to assert and justify their stand on the existence of free will.
What is Free Will?
The latest version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines free will as:
· Voluntary choice or decision
· Freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or divine intervention.
Free will, therefore, can be defined as the ability of an individual to choose their actions and thus the outcome of their actions without anything or being restricting them from taking action.
Free will goes against other concepts such as determinism which states that all human actions are predetermined and we have no actual control over the choices we make and the people we become as a result of our actions.
Determinism states that our decisions are influenced by external rather than internal factors that we do not have control over.
Does Free Will Exist?
Western philosophers had a lot to say about free will and what its existence or non-existence means for human beings and the development of human beings.
Plato
Plato approached this topic by exploring the inner self and the justification for our reason of choice.
He said that the wise man strives for inner justice which plays a vital role in acting as a guide- a reason for the choice we make, and the spirited nature of an individual as the basis of the reason directing him to do what he finds proper.
He also states that without inner justice, man is only a slave of his passions.
Plato’s definition of freedom is self-mastery attained by developing virtues of wisdom, courage, and temperance which deliberates them from just following their desires and allows them to have a more accurate understanding of the pursuit of the Good.
By Plato’s theory man’s actions are a result of his character, not external factors.
Aristotle
Aristotle gives greater theoretical attention to the role of choice in initiating individual actions which, over time, result in habits; good or ill.
In his book, Book III of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle says that, unlike nonrational agents, we have the power to do or not to do. Much of what we do is voluntary, such that its origin is ‘in us’ and we are ‘aware of the particular circumstances of the action.
Furthermore, mature humans make choices after deliberating about different available means to our ends, drawing on rational principles of action.
Choose consistently well (poorly), and a virtuous (vicious) character will form over time, making it our power to be either virtuous or vicious.
He also explores the question of whether man’s actions are a result of his internal state, perception of his circumstances or relevant beliefs, desires, and character, or his external state.
To this, he says man is a father of his own actions. The actions he chooses are a result of his character, and his previous choices have shaped his current character.
Other philosophers from the medieval and current eras have participated in the discussion about free will, but almost always, none agreed with the other.
The question of free will has no one single answer all around the world as while it can be argued free will exists and is backed up with evidence, it can also be argued that it does not exist and still have loads of statements to back that up.
Most philosophers agree that our ability to express free will or believe in its non-existence depends on our perception of free will.
Science: The Illusion of Free Will
Scientists have made a great contribution to the discussion of free will. Neuroscience has approached this question by seeking answers to what happens inside the human brain before an action is taken.
These tests show that before we take an action, the part of our brain that deals with decision-making lights up a fraction of a second before we take action; a fraction of a second before the time we perceive our choice.
This concludes that the decision-making process is a chemical reaction in our brain and not a result of our ability to choose. These tests have shown that it is not us who communicate to the brain but instead, we follow what our brains have already set to do.
In addition, scientists have found that brain injuries often lead to poor decision-making.
According to a study, more than half of the jail population in a chosen region have suffered a brain tumor or brain injury. Injury to the brain causes an impact on our decision-making skills.
Our actions thus are a product of information communicated by the brain about the action we are about to take and not a result of our ability to make a choice freely.
A closer look at Charles Darwin's theory of evolution shows that genes also play a role in our ability to make decisions.
Our genes differ and with them, traits like intelligence. We might make a decision based on our level of intelligence which is a trait we have no control over.
Other factors that may control the decisions we make are drug and substance abuse.
All these are factors that can change a person’s ideologies, beliefs, and choices thus making free will an illusion as your decisions are not your own but a result of other conditions we are not in control of.
FREE WILL AND MORALITY
The existence or non-existence of free will does not affect an individual’s morality.
The degree to which an individual believes they can express free will should not affect their morality as they should be able to make decisions good for themselves and anyone (thing) else involved.
Their character should be the basis of their reasoning and that character is a result of previous choices made.
If a man believes their actions are their own, they should be able to overcome desires, norms, and regulations that keep them from doing what they believe is right.
If a man believes his actions are predetermined, their beliefs often align with goodness. Religion, fate, destiny, and similar concepts often direct human beings towards universal morality.
A change in the belief of existence or non-existence of free will may cause a change in the moral direction or personality of a human being, but should not be a cause for immorality.
Researcher and YouTuber Brian Greene recommends going on about life without giving much thought to the existence or non-existence of free will.
