The Illusion Of Free-Will
Free-will is quite possibly one of the most treasured privileges of being human; the ability to act how you wish, the ability to think independently. It is essentially freedom of the mind. But what if free-will was an illusion? Imagine a world where everything happens by cause and effect. Where is there room for free-will, if everything is determined before you, because of past events, your biology and your environment?
The opposite of free-will is determinism, to which your behaviour is already determined by the factors already stated. This is where this huge debate lies: if the whole universe is already determined, then there can be no room for free-will, as then nothing is determined. There can only exist one or the other side of the argument.
The majority of our knowledge has pointed to the direction that the universe is deterministic. The big bang, possibly the start of our universe, was the starting cause, and we, as a result are the effect of this. Without the big bang, the Earth would not have been formed. But here lies a quandary. Did someone choose to create our Earth with their own free-will? But the universe is materialistic, so how can it think for itself? If it is the case, that the universe is materialistic, then this is surely evidence that there is definitely cause and effect, (determinism) in the material world; oxygen reacting with carbon will always cause carbon dioxide for example.
But this leads to question, what caused the big bang? Was there another figure, with a conscious, which decided to create our universe with the big bang? In this case, does religion help play a role to which explains if we have free-will or not? The human solution to this ancient paradox definitely brings in the factor of religion, by believing the divine creator gave us free-will in a deterministic universe. But this has huge downfalls. This idea is not based on fact, like a materialist deterministic universe is; it is based purely on faith, and not backed by objectivity. But if the divine creator did decide to give us free-will, and decided to create the big bang, what caused it to do so? Is there in fact a deterministic God, who was influenced by events before it?
The logical resolution is that we do not possess free-will. Rather, we have the impression of free-will because we do not know all the factors and events which determine our choices or decisions. Therefore, in the presence of inadequate knowledge, we have an illusion of free-will, but with more knowledge we would be able to see the determinism in our actions.
However, without free-will, it completely destroys our juridical system; that people are responsible for their own actions and should be punished rightfully, in context. But if the universe is determined, how can one be responsible for their actions? They should not be punished for something they cannot control. If we are not in control of their actions, then we may as well stay in bed all day. What is the point in doing anything if we do not make up our minds for ourselves?
But this type of reaction is not logical; it is purely emotional. It is this kind of negative emotional reaction which inhibits us from accepting the logical conclusion of determinism. So if everything is deterministic, what gives the impression of free-will?
The key characteristics of free-will involve being dependent on the individual being, and what has caused them to choose their decisions. Making a decision is not random; we play through the different consequences in our mind, meaning when we do make a choice it is a determined one, but one we have chosen because of past experiences. A lot of free-will is realising, that we cannot choose a decision correctly purely based on nothing. We are completely influenced by the environment and our biology. In a determined universe, I am the product of all events which I or my ancestors have experienced. I am a unique being and my choices or decisions are the result of who I am. Thus, I have the principal characteristic of free-will even though the universe is determined.
Real studies, such as Farrington (2002) found that those who experience poor parenting, low level of income and poor schooling when they are children are more likely to become involved in criminal activity at a later stage in their life. Classic determinism, where past experiences have a huge effect on the decision you take, whether to commit crime or not.
However Milgram (1963) found that 65% of participants would obey an authoritative figure to give electric shocks to a stranger, all the way up to 450V. This can show determinism, because the prestigious University setting the experiment took place in or the money that they were given to take part, may have lead them to make the decision to continue to the end to reach 450V. Past experiences leading to the effect. However on the other end 35% chose not to obey, and did not continue with the experiment. Is this some empirical evidence of free-will? Or was this another past experience of morals of inflicting pain on others causing this decision?
This article was not meant to offer a solution or conclusion, but instead make the reader think. It is a very interesting debate, to which this has only just touched upon the key elements in the argument between a deterministic universe and the free-will of humans.
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