Freedom and Determinism

Abstract

'Freedom and Determinism' is a conflicting postulate with reference to the nature of human conduct. Is man free or is everything determined? Freedom is a matter of choice based on rationality, intelligence and knowledge. Moral freedom implies both choice and responsibility. ­Man is morally good because, he enjoys freedom which makes life meaningful. So, freedom and social responsibility go hand in hand. Determinists argue that free will is impossible and preceding causes necessitate everything. Naturalistic determinists consider man a part of causal chain. His actions are determined by antecedent causes. Hence, man is an 'instrumental cause. Theistic Determinists trace man's actions to God's controlling hand. Hard-determinists believe that determinism is true and moral responsibility is an illusion. So, determinism is incompatible with free will and moral responsibility. They interpret freedom as the 'Liberty of indifference.' In the opinion of soft determinists, determinism is true but man can make choices, which are the effects of certain antecedent events. So, freedom and determinism are compatible and interpret freedom as the 'Liberty of Spontaneity'. According to libertarians, determinism is false, freedom is possible and man is morally responsible for his actions. Freedom and determinism, being an ethical problem sometimes seems to deny each other and some other times seem to co-inhere in our life. The paper argues that freedom, however limited it may be, is a 'fact' of experience while, determinism is mostly a matter of 'faith', and whether to accept the fact or the faith, depends on one's individual choice and belief. Both represent different attitudes of man. So, the key is more 'attitudinal' than 'conceptual'.