Latoya Brown
HUP 101
Professor: Albrecht
November 3, 2009
Freedom
Am I free? Do the actions and choices I make derive purely from my own decision, or
am I just a product of causes and effects? I would like to think that I am free to do as I will but I
doubt it. Everything I do is for some reason or another; there is nothing I do that does not have
an ulterior motive. I Study because I want better grades. I talk to my friends and tell them nice
things, because I want to keep my friends. I’m left confused because although it is absolutely
plausible that the determinist view which states "every event, including human actions are
brought about by previous events in accordance with universal laws" in a nut shell the
determinist view is stating because all my actions derive from previous actions, I have no free
will. I like the idea that I have a choice, that I don’t do what’s logical, or what’s based on
circumstances. Free choice means that I control my life and I desperately need to know that I
have some form of control over my life, and that the reason why my life is being lived a specific
way is because I choose to live in that manner.
To have a determinist view means that you believe human action can be scientifically
determined, and that they are based on factors such as human instinct, their environment, their
psychological makeup, or social dynamics. Determinist would say that Humans always act
according to one of these factors; therefore the need for cause and effects makes this idea of no
free will, possible in every circumstance, “Just as an alarm clock lacks the possibility to choose
freely whether it will sound the alarm so, so do you lack the power to choose freely because
everything that you think feel and do are caused by other factors”. I disagree although all these
factor play a role in what we do; we are not bound by them. We have the final say in the decision
we make. While the alarm clock has no mind to determine his view on being set every night, we
have a mind, and we can determine what we want to do. In my mind there is no dispute that these
factors can swing us a certain way. The difference is that we still have the power to decide, if we
want to swing that the way, or make a complete you turn and do something else.
Can I improve myself? Of course I can. My mind is like an empty canvas it takes in
information, so it can develop and grow. It is this attribute that allows me to set a goals, and
make decision based on those goals, which will help me to better myself. I am a strong believer
in the saying “ things are not always set in stone” meaning that if you make a mistake you can
always correct it by the actions you exemplify after you commit an act good or bad. I am
responsible for everything I do. I cannot blame another individual if something does not go my
way. Nor can I blame my circumstances if I don’t end up where I want. I can only blame myself.
When we make decision based on our free will we shape our destiny. When outside
circumstances interrupt our internal vision, it is through ourselves that we make the best of the
situation, so that we can accomplish our goals, whatever they might be. Suppose I got on a train
and it got stuck on the track for about 10 min which then meant that I was late for school. I knew
that time class started at 9:15, hence I could not blame the train because I knew that there was a
possibility it can be late at any given time. I would blame myself. Determinist believe that
individuals are not responsible for their action because it is not our own will that permits us to do
something, therefore we cannot be reprimanded for them. I believe that I am responsible for
every single choice I make. I was created with the ability to make my own choices so whether
my choices are good or bad they are still mine and I except them as such.
Again I question my freedom, Am I truly free? I believe I am other individuals such as
d’ Holbach, might say that the idea of my freedom is an illusion. While others would agree with
me saying that because I feel a sense of regret I have freedom. If I were not free, then I would
not blame myself because the choices I made were not my own. I have to believe that I am free
because like W.T Stace states, “if free will is an illusion then, it makes no sense for people to
make enlightened moral choices”. Stace verifies my belief that, without free will I would have no
reason to live. If things were going to happen anyways and I had no influence on what did
happen, then I would have no drive to live, but I do have a drive and a will to live. So yes I am
free. I am free to think. I am free to conclude; therefore I am free to make my own choices of
which I accept the responsibility with or without regrets.
R.A.I =Realization Always Intimidates=