“Free Will, Determinism, and…” Article by Willoughby

Topic: Behaviorism
Words: 361 Pages: 1

The metaphysical issue concerning free will and determinism is contradictory to human activities and the world in which we exist. Free will is the ability to choose an action from various alternatives and determine the most suitable to depend on. This ability enables an individual to reflect on one’s decision and its consequences.

An action of free will has either positive or negative consequences; thus, a person has to determine which standpoint to rely upon to generate the desired outcome. For instance, a person has the free will to commit a crime and thus defines their humanistic approach (Willoughby et al., 141). Therefore, when reacting to free will, it demonstrates personal agency, which depicts the choices we make in life, the path we follow, and the consequences. Therefore, I believe individuals have the collective responsibility to approach free will as a doctrine for societal changes. Additionally, through free will, we can attain sustainability, growth, and freedom. This doctrine will enable humanity to focus on the positive side of governing and interaction for a better future.

Determinism is considered the doctrine that every action occurs prior to a cause, and it can be determined. Precisely, if an event occurs, there are earlier conditions that demonstrate reasons for the occurrence. Determinism depicts that every action is determined. According to determinism, the cause of action is set on by outside influences such as media, schools, and parental influence. For example, a teen can be hostile by observing the actions of their parents. Further, determinism can arise from a biological perspective where internal forces determine a behavior (Willoughby et al., 141). Therefore, a particular trait is triggered by a hormonal process within the body, arousing the nervous system. Determinism varies from one person to the other due to changes in an external factor. For instance, if a person is poor, they cannot necessarily steal; however, there is a projection that they can engage in the activity.

Therefore, in my opinion, we as individuals can create rules and determine how they will be enacted. More so, through free will and determinism, we can create an influential environment by embracing positive actions and hence control behavioral relations.

Work Cited

Willoughby, Emily A., et al. “Free will, determinism, and intuitive judgments about the heritability of behavior.” Behavior Genetics 49.2 (2019): 136-153.

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