Robert Waxman, Ph.D.

Throughout history, the problem of free will vs. determinism has sparked major debates between philosophers. Determinism is the belief that all things, including human behavior, are casually determined in a manner that they could not be otherwise. Indeterminism is the view that some things, possibly human will and behavior, are free from casual determination. Though this problem raises many issues in itself, it also sparks many questions and arguments concerning other topics, such as religion and morality.

To believe in free will is not to say that human behavior is random or uncaused. It simply means that, to some extent, people have control over their actions. In addition to other factors, external and internal, people have the freedom to choose what actions they will take. The mere fact that man is aware of cause and effect indicates that he in some way takes part in the process. Are individuals merely a pawns in the world of cause and effect? If so, then what is the purpose of man's ability to reason and calculate outcomes in his mind when he cannot act on his own reasoning, but is forced to follow some predetermined path?