1.4 - Free Will, Determinism, and Predestination

Question 1

Give 3 beliefs about free will.

Answer 1

Christianity teaches that we have free will, otherwise there would be no justice in going to hell, as you aren’t responsible for your actions
We feel like we have free will and like we can make our own choices - argument of introspection
Without free will, there is no justice in law enforcement and punishing people
Most think we have free will, though this is limited by laws, upbringing, nature, and the physical laws of the universe

Question 2

Outline physical determinism, and give arguments for and against this view.

Answer 2

Hard Determinism: If we have a complete description of both the physical state of the universe at a given time, and the physical laws of the universe, then we can predict all future events, including human actions, and so they are determined.
Soft Determinism: Physical laws of the universe limit what we can and we can’t do.
+Scientific explanation (doesn’t rely on theism)
-Uncertainty principle shows there’s inherent randomness in the physical world
-Many things that humans have thought are impossible but became possible e.g. flying vehicle (plane). Are there actually any limits to what we can do?

Question 3

Outline social (psychological) determinism, and give arguments for and against this view.

Answer 3

Social interactions and social structure alone determine our behaviour and actions. People learn from imitation.
+Explains family traits as a result of upbringing
+Supporting evidence, e.g. religion passed down from parents
-Evidence that our genes also help to determine our behaviour and actions

Question 4

Outline biological (genetic) determinism, and give arguments for and against this view.

Answer 4

Our behaviour is controlled by biological factors, such as our genes, and brain size and structure, so our actions must be determined. Person’s choices influenced by their nature.
+Explains family traits as a result of genetics
+Scientific explanation, can be proved
+During puberty children go through mood swings due to biological reasons (hormones)
-Doesn’t account for social factors, e.g. school, upbringing
-Many identical twins have very different natures
- Person may naturally be more angry but he/she still has a choice over his actions
- People can work on changing their nature

Question 5

Outline predestination, and give arguments for and against this view.

Answer 5

Part of Christian theology stating that God has already decided on the future, and thus our actions are determined.
+Shown by God’s omniscience - he must know the future, which then can’t be changed
+“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him” (Ephesians 1)
+“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1)
-Relies on God’s existence and there is no evidence for this
-No justice in going to hell if you can’t control your actions, goes against God’s omnibenevolence
-If God can see someone is about to die, then why doesn’t he help them and stop them from dying? Is God really omnibenevolent?

Question 6

Outline Calvinism, and give arguments against this view.

Answer 6

People are inherently sinful, and so need salvation from God - salvation is a free gift and so it can’t be earned
God chooses who will go to heaven (the elect) and who will go to hell (reprobate) even before we are born - we don’t have free will (predestination).
He helps the elect make their decisions. He doesn’t help the reprobate - more likely to sin.
- Opposes belief that God is omnibenevolent
- Opposes the belief that God is our conscious.