A Discussion on Philosophy - Free Will

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Slide 1

Text: Free Will: A Discussion

'Free Will' is a term that we refer to when we rational a choice of actions in the manner by which we conduct our lives. While it can be a simplistic explanation for individual choices, it also implies religious, ethical & scientific grounds to our actions whether or not we consciously acknowledge it during the fact. Debate rages on to this day whether or not 'free will' is what it actually connotes to us linguistically - is it a total freedom of choice or is it determined and caused. If such is the case is it really 'free' as we imply it to be? Can freedom coexist with something that is already determined? The Question of Free Will has been at the centre of Philosophical debate since the time of the Ancient Greeks.

"Do you not think, my good man, that all men desire good things?"
- Socrates (in Plato's Meno, 315BC est.)

Slide 2

Text: Determinism & the Divine Problem of Free Will

If Christian Theology & teaching advocate the laws & tenets of Christianity and the Catholic Church is ruled primarily by the Vatican who advocate governing this 'earthly abode' according to the Commandments of God - then is it possible that all Christian actions, at least those who wish to enter heaven are already determined? While St. Thomas Aquinas argues that Free Will is a gift we have been endowed to exercise the gift of judgement & wisdom by an all-seeing, all-forgiving Divine God, where is freedom in a 'destined life' determined by the Divine?
Determinism finds itself in the centre of the debate on Free Will & Destiny. Theologists argue that for Free Will to happen; the Divine must not assert its power over a person's will & choices. If rules & Ethics of Faith are in place that to be faithful means following them to heart, shouldn't this mean that religion in this manner determined the outcome?

"By the mere fact of listening
we are already in the process of building.
To listen to God's Word and to put into practice
is to build on rock."
- St. Augustine, 5th century

Slide 3

Text: Determinism & Biology

Revolution in the field of Medical & Biological research has come to a conclusion that what we are is determined by our genetic makeup. This genetic makeup or 'code' in each person is unique. My DNA (deoxyribose nucleic acid) is unique to me & me alone while I might share some similarities with my parents & those whom I relate within the genetic pool. My behaviour therefore is dictated by my genetic make-up. Couple with socialization, the culture I am a part of, it is probably easy to psychologists to determine what choice I will make when confronted with a particular situation.
If both my parents are musicians, chances are I'll probably be one myself having grown up in a household of musicians surrounded & confronted by the craft of music. The least is that I can play an instrument & be familiar with music as a discipline. One can argue that in the future, if I would have chosen to be a musician, I did it so because I wanted it. One can also say that I did because it is in "my genes". "I wanted it" makes it appear that I chose to be a musician, "my genes" implicates that it is predetermined - I was born with music in my personal ...