Free Will
What is Free Will?
Denise Dale
What is Free Will? Free will is the driving force of human existence and individuality. It directs human actions, thoughts and desires. Free will is what distinguishes humankind from all other creations of existence. Animals do not have free will. Plants and flowers do not have free will. Humans live their lives. Out of all that there is of existence that depends on air for life, only humans truly have free will. As per the Merriam-Webster dictionary Free is defined as “not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being…choosing or capable of choosing for itself…determined by the choice of the actor or performer…made, done, or given voluntarily or spontaneously…capable of moving or turning in any direction…not restricted by or conforming to conventional forms.” The definition of Will is said to be “desire, wish…choice, willingness, consent…determination, insistence, persistence” while Free Will is defined as “voluntary choice or decision…freedom of humans to make choices.” Free will is a “philosophical term of art for a particular sort of capacity of rational agents to choose a course of action from among various alternatives” (O’Connor, 2013). Philosophers have debated the question of free will for over two millennia. Just about every major philosopher has had something to say about it. Most suppose that the concept of free will is very closely connected to the concept of moral responsibility. Free will appears as the autonomy and dignity of a person, it is the value we accord to love and friendship. Free will carries many dimensions. Free choice is an activity that involves both our intellect and volitional abilities as both consist in judgment and active promise. True freedom of the will involves liberation from any tyranny of base desires and acquisition of desire for the good. Free will is complex because it connects with many other larger theological issues. It intersects
Denise Dale
What is Free Will? Free will is the driving force of human existence and individuality. It directs human actions, thoughts and desires. Free will is what distinguishes humankind from all other creations of existence. Animals do not have free will. Plants and flowers do not have free will. Humans live their lives. Out of all that there is of existence that depends on air for life, only humans truly have free will. As per the Merriam-Webster dictionary Free is defined as “not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being…choosing or capable of choosing for itself…determined by the choice of the actor or performer…made, done, or given voluntarily or spontaneously…capable of moving or turning in any direction…not restricted by or conforming to conventional forms.” The definition of Will is said to be “desire, wish…choice, willingness, consent…determination, insistence, persistence” while Free Will is defined as “voluntary choice or decision…freedom of humans to make choices.” Free will is a “philosophical term of art for a particular sort of capacity of rational agents to choose a course of action from among various alternatives” (O’Connor, 2013). Philosophers have debated the question of free will for over two millennia. Just about every major philosopher has had something to say about it. Most suppose that the concept of free will is very closely connected to the concept of moral responsibility. Free will appears as the autonomy and dignity of a person, it is the value we accord to love and friendship. Free will carries many dimensions. Free choice is an activity that involves both our intellect and volitional abilities as both consist in judgment and active promise. True freedom of the will involves liberation from any tyranny of base desires and acquisition of desire for the good. Free will is complex because it connects with many other larger theological issues. It intersects
References: Ash, T. (2003). Do We Have Free Will? Big Issue Ground. Retrieved from: http://www.bigissueground.com/philosophy/ash-freewill.shtml Stenger, V.J. (2012). Free Will and Autonomous Will, Skeptic. 17(4). 15-19. Retrieved from: http://ehis.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d94838be-7650-44af-b16d- 5de06db0a318%40sessionmgr10&vid=6&hid=7