Free Will and Determinism

Free Will and Determinism

1. Determinism

   • Causal determinism
     • Given the laws of nature a certain set of causes will lead to one overall necessary effect
     • Not logically guaranteed
     • Relies on science and experiments
   • Theological Determinism
     • Theological Fatalism
       • God knows infallibly what you will do tomorrow, so you must do it
       • No mention of the laws of nature or cause and effect
       • Comes from theology rather than science
     • Predestination
       • God decides what will happen to everyone
         • He caused Hitler to sin and Mother Theresa to do good
         • If a tree falls down in a forest, God caused it to happen
       • No mention of the laws of nature
         • Ultimate cause of everything is the will of God
       • Comes from theology, not science
   • Fatalism
     • Aristotle
       • 'Will there be a sea battle tomorrow?'
         • If true then there will be a sea battle
           • Nothing can be done to stop it
         • If false then there will not be a sea battle
           • Nothing can be done to make it happen
     • Comes from two logical principles
       • The law of excluded middle
         • There is no third truth value
       • The principle of bivalence
         • Every proposition is either true or false
     • Relies on laws of logic alone
       • Seems to logically guarantee the future