Video - Free Will vs. Determinism: Are Our Choices Truly Our Own?

Imagine a world where every choice we make and every action we take is already predetermined, where the concept of free will is merely an illusion. This philosophical quandary, known as the debate between determinism and free will, has puzzled thinkers for centuries. Determinists argue that everything in the universe, including human behavior, follows a chain of cause and effect, rendering the notion of freedom moot. In this view, our decisions are the inevitable result of prior states of the world. Conversely, proponents of free will contend that we are autonomous agents capable of making genuinely free choices, independent of prior causes. Existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre famously argued for radical freedom, asserting that humans are 'condemned to be free' and must take responsibility for their choices. Contrarily, hard determinists like B.F. Skinner believed our actions are conditioned responses to external stimuli. This debate intensifies when we consider the implications for morality and accountability. If our choices are predestined, can we hold individuals morally responsible for their actions? Yet, the lived experience of making choices feels undeniably real. Perhaps, as compatibilists suggest, free will and determinism aren't mutually exclusive; we might have the freedom to act within a determined framework. While the mystery deepens, what remains clear is the beauty of this inquiry—provoking us to reflect on our existence, our choices, and the essence of what it means to be human.