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Free Will. People have a hard time determining what it is let alone if we have it. The subject can get complicated quickly, but here we will focus on the pragmatic aspects of this subject, namely moral responsibility.
To talk about free will we must put forth a definition of it. In our case we will define free will as the capability of an individual to influence themselves and their enviroment. If a person's decisions are based solely on input from their enviroment, then they do not have free will.
Should people be able to plead insanity as a defense for their actions in a court of law? What person in their right mind would commit serial rape, murder etc anyway?
An increasing excuse people have been using for their actions is genetic predisposition. A person claims they cannot help being a murderer because they have a predisposition towards it.
While our genes do shape our desires and tendencies they do not control us. In the end we still make decisions using our brain. If the justifications above are true then we cannot take credit for anything, good or bad. A philanthropist is that way because his environment and genes made him that way. A rapist is so because his environment and genes made him that way.
People who are lazy and don't want to take responsibility for their actions use that type of reasoning. If you look at any interview or book by a successful person you'll find they always take responsibility for their actions.
People have been debating free will for thousands of years, and the debate will continue; but if you want to live well take responsibility for everything that you do. It will shape the way you look at things and change how you approach life.
To talk about free will we must put forth a definition of it. In our case we will define free will as the capability of an individual to influence themselves and their enviroment. If a person's decisions are based solely on input from their enviroment, then they do not have free will.
Should people be able to plead insanity as a defense for their actions in a court of law? What person in their right mind would commit serial rape, murder etc anyway?
An increasing excuse people have been using for their actions is genetic predisposition. A person claims they cannot help being a murderer because they have a predisposition towards it.
While our genes do shape our desires and tendencies they do not control us. In the end we still make decisions using our brain. If the justifications above are true then we cannot take credit for anything, good or bad. A philanthropist is that way because his environment and genes made him that way. A rapist is so because his environment and genes made him that way.
People who are lazy and don't want to take responsibility for their actions use that type of reasoning. If you look at any interview or book by a successful person you'll find they always take responsibility for their actions.
People have been debating free will for thousands of years, and the debate will continue; but if you want to live well take responsibility for everything that you do. It will shape the way you look at things and change how you approach life.
posted by Phil at
10:59 AM
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