Socrates: I would say that determinism is when a person believes that a person’s actions are completely unavoidable. That our actions are essentially predetermined and we are unable to change fate. This is something that can also be seen in nature.
Me: So then, what of free will?
Socrates: Free will could be considered as almost the opposite of determinism. Where under determinism one believes that man cannot change the events that transpire under the idea of free will one believes that man has the ability to affect absolutely everything that happens to him. He is not bound to any set of predetermined events.
Me: Do you think it is fair to say that every event has an explanatory cause? Right down to the smallest event?
Socrates: No, I do not think that is correct. Because of the existence of free will there cannot be an explanatory cause for every single event. However, there are usually explanations for the occurrence of major events in people’s lives such as death. This is, perhaps, not always the case however. It all depends on how you would definite explanatory cause.
Me: I agree. For example, if I was to die and a large funeral was to be held in my honour there would be an explanatory cause for that event. Free will has been mostly removed from the equation.
Socrates: Exactly. It is the difference between human choices and human events. How would you view these ideas?
Me: In my opinion human choices are the options that we as people have every single day. We have the power to exercise our free will at almost any stage in our daily lives. A human event, however, are things that come to you. For example, needing to go to the toilet!
Socrates: Aha! So then, are we saying that to have an explanatory cause for something is to not be free?
Me: Not necessarily: just because we may or may not be bound to certain events does not take away our ability to be free or exercise free will. For example, if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness it does not mean that you do not get to use free will as you choose for the remainder of your days.
Socrates: Hmm, so are you of the view that free will and determinism cannot exist in any way?
Me: I think it is certainly possible for them to do so and they do so on a daily basis. Did you not say your self that if you had no legs you could not exercise the free will to run?!
Socrates: Yes, indeed I did. That is a very salient point. Determinism can affect our lives in certain ways. It is not such a simple subject. In the example that you provided, I can still use internal free will – I am free to do as I please, however that is limited by the external determinism of the fact that I am no longer able to use my limbs. Thus, I have internal free will and am affected by external factors.
