Do humans have free will? In this essay I am going to explore this philosophical contention. Firstly, I will present a personally preferred definition of fatalism. Secondly, I will summarise the argument by Theodore Schick; that fatalism is true in the world of the Matrix and explain why I think this is an unsuccessful argument. Finally, I intend to discuss why I think fatalism is false in our current world providing reasons for my answer.
Fatalism is a philosophical principle that states all events and actions are preordained, we are powerless to do anything other than what will happen. Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2016) defines fatalism as “the doctrine that what will be will be, or that human action has no influence on events.” I am going to use this definition of fatalism is going to aid in the …show more content…
After he leaves The Matrix does he have free will? Theodore Schick argues yes, under the conditions that the Oracles foreknowing is “apparent rather than real” (Schick, 2002, p.98). This means that rather than predicting the future the oracle in The Matrix must shape the future, her prophecies are as Schick states “self-fulfilling” (2002). I think this argument posed by Theodore Schick is unsuccessful as it is conditional, fatalism is true within The Matrix only under certain conditions. “A proposition is said to be 'necessarily true' (or 'logically true') if it is true under all possible circumstances.” (Swartz, 2004). Swartz’s statement demonstrates that Schick’s argument is fallacious as it is circumstantially fatalism within The Matrix; it is only true that fatalism exists in The Matrix if the oracles prophecies are real and not apparent. However, the oracles prophecies are apparent not real, she shapes the future to aid in producing the future prophesized. Neo would not have broken the vase if she had not previously stated “don’t worry about the vase” as he would not have turned around looking for a vase, leading to breaking the
Fatalism is a philosophical principle that states all events and actions are preordained, we are powerless to do anything other than what will happen. Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2016) defines fatalism as “the doctrine that what will be will be, or that human action has no influence on events.” I am going to use this definition of fatalism is going to aid in the …show more content…
After he leaves The Matrix does he have free will? Theodore Schick argues yes, under the conditions that the Oracles foreknowing is “apparent rather than real” (Schick, 2002, p.98). This means that rather than predicting the future the oracle in The Matrix must shape the future, her prophecies are as Schick states “self-fulfilling” (2002). I think this argument posed by Theodore Schick is unsuccessful as it is conditional, fatalism is true within The Matrix only under certain conditions. “A proposition is said to be 'necessarily true' (or 'logically true') if it is true under all possible circumstances.” (Swartz, 2004). Swartz’s statement demonstrates that Schick’s argument is fallacious as it is circumstantially fatalism within The Matrix; it is only true that fatalism exists in The Matrix if the oracles prophecies are real and not apparent. However, the oracles prophecies are apparent not real, she shapes the future to aid in producing the future prophesized. Neo would not have broken the vase if she had not previously stated “don’t worry about the vase” as he would not have turned around looking for a vase, leading to breaking the