Is free will actually free? Are we morally responsible for who we are? Do we truly deserve the praise or blame that we receive for our actions? I support the claim that we cannot be ultimately morally responsible for being who we are.
[Intro:43 words]
Most people’s definition of the word “free” in free will is determined by their idea that every individual in their right mind has the freedom of choice to make a decision leading to an action. This idea of freedom separates the individual and regards them as a free cognitive being. Therefore, making the individual the sole recipient and beneficiary of blame and praise for any action committed. Some say that the control we have through free will decides who we are. Do we really? How can you …show more content…
We do not have control of what we are exposed to, or what is exposed to the things that we are exposed to. For example a person born in poverty had no choice of being born in those circumstances. Consequently every action or reaction made by this person will have been influenced by their circumstance. Whether it is morally right or wrong, is another trivial topic in itself. If this person were to be brought up in a survivalist, “dog eat dog”, and every man for them self society stealing may not be looked at as morally wrong. He/she did mysteriously decide to steal. It was influence by the way of life which is beyond his/her control. This back the argument the we are not truly in control of who we are as a person. Even if this person decided that they did not want to steal. This change of mind had to have come from their mind, which is affected by the things that were gathered by their human senses prior to that moment. This complex array of combinations that are inside us are created by the things that we are and aren’t exposed to. 10 people can be witness to the same event and because of the combination of prior event and current way of thinking there can be 10 possibly different reactions to it. We can only merely influence our character, personality, and motivational structure by the things that have already influenced them. Whether one sides Determinism or
[Intro:43 words]
Most people’s definition of the word “free” in free will is determined by their idea that every individual in their right mind has the freedom of choice to make a decision leading to an action. This idea of freedom separates the individual and regards them as a free cognitive being. Therefore, making the individual the sole recipient and beneficiary of blame and praise for any action committed. Some say that the control we have through free will decides who we are. Do we really? How can you …show more content…
We do not have control of what we are exposed to, or what is exposed to the things that we are exposed to. For example a person born in poverty had no choice of being born in those circumstances. Consequently every action or reaction made by this person will have been influenced by their circumstance. Whether it is morally right or wrong, is another trivial topic in itself. If this person were to be brought up in a survivalist, “dog eat dog”, and every man for them self society stealing may not be looked at as morally wrong. He/she did mysteriously decide to steal. It was influence by the way of life which is beyond his/her control. This back the argument the we are not truly in control of who we are as a person. Even if this person decided that they did not want to steal. This change of mind had to have come from their mind, which is affected by the things that were gathered by their human senses prior to that moment. This complex array of combinations that are inside us are created by the things that we are and aren’t exposed to. 10 people can be witness to the same event and because of the combination of prior event and current way of thinking there can be 10 possibly different reactions to it. We can only merely influence our character, personality, and motivational structure by the things that have already influenced them. Whether one sides Determinism or