The question of whether do we have free will or not is one of the hot topics in philosophy and even in physics.
But, what does free will mean?
In short, it means that we can make our own choices and govern the course of our lives. Sounds simple, right?
but the fact that we are calling it simple is because we have not understood it completely!
Let us take a step deeper and learn another term called Determinism. Determinism, in philosophy, is a framework that every decisions we make are predetermined by external factors, or external causes, and we cannot deviate from the predetermined course of actions we are supposed to make throughout our lives. In other words, we don’t have a free will to rule our lives.
So, if you observe carefully, Determinism and Free will are the two sides of the same coin. One restricts you to take your own decisions and other “frees” you to do so. A great debate between philosophers is still going on, trying to find out which one is more likely to prevail. Is our universe deterministic? Or the idea of determinism is nothing but hokum?
Whatever the answer is, the implications to both are mind bending. Suppose, on one hand, our universe is deterministic and our lives are a manifestation of determinism. It would mean that being moral or immoral is out of our hands! The concept of morality is superfluous if we are not supposed to decide independently!Then, the concept of punishment to immoral actions has no meaning. Ergo, religions have no meaning!
But, on the other hand, a universe guided by free will shall have meaning. We would be free to take our actions and guide our lives to whichever direction we want.
But most people believe that determining which is the right answer is impossible. Sure, there are sides but there is no definite answer. I’ll write more about this hot topic. Till then, tell me what do you think? Is our universe is guided by free will or by determinism? Give your answers in the comment section!
Till then, See you!
RS
Ideas and Opinions 
Damn.. Good topic for the first post bruh (◔‿◔)
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I think it’s guided by the possibilities that are simply there .. you may call it frer will.. but it still has a limited course of actions,
It was a good read, i enjoyed it
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Thanks!
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“Free will” is when we decide for ourselves what we will do, free of coercion or other undue influence.
“Determinism” asserts that the behavior of objects and forces in our universe provides perfectly reliable cause and effect, and thus, at least in theory, is perfectly predictable.
Because reliable cause and effect is neither coercive nor undue, it poses no threat to free will. A meaningful constraint would be a man holding a gun to our head, forcing us to do his will. But reliable causation is not such a force. It is simply how we operate as we go about being us, doing what we do, and choosing what we choose.
Because our decisions are reliably caused by our own purpose, our own reasons, and our own interests, our deliberate choosing poses no threat to determinism. Choosing is a deterministic process. And this process is authentically performed by us, according to our own purpose, reasons, and interests.
As it turns out, every choice we make for ourselves is both freely chosen and reliably caused. Thus, the concepts of free will and determinism are naturally compatible.
The illusion of conflict is created by a logic error called the “reification fallacy“. This happens when we mistakenly treat the concept of “reliable cause and effect” as if it were an external force controlling our choices, as if it were not actually us, simply being us and doing what we do.
But concepts are not “things” that cause. Only the actual objects themselves, and the forces they naturally exert upon other objects, can cause events to happen.
When empirically observed, we find that we exist in reality as physical objects, living organisms, and an intelligent species. As living organisms, we act purposefully to survive, thrive, and reproduce. As an intelligent species, we act deliberately by imagination, evaluation, and choosing. And, when we act upon our choices, we are forces of nature.
Reliable cause and effect is not an external force. It is us, and the rest of the physical universe, just doing what we do. Those who try to turn it into a boogeyman robbing us of our choices are empirically mistaken.
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But I don’t understand. How are you calling these external factors “concepts” if they have no observational consequences?
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“Causation” never causes anything and “determinism” never determines anything. Only the actual objects and forces that make up the physical universe are capable of causing events. It is the mass of the Sun and the mass of the Earth and its trajectory that cause the Earth to orbit the Sun. In the same fashion it is my own process of deliberation that “determines” what I will have for lunch. Causation and determinism are used to describe what I do, but they are only descriptive, not causative. I, on the other hand, am a real physical object, a living organism of an intelligent species. I can cause stuff. I can determine things.
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Also, the uncertainty principle denies the existence of cause and effect at the subatomic level. so, in a way, not everything is predictable.
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But I agree to the statement you made that our lives are a blend of free will and determinism.
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