The Illusion of free will.
This article is part of a series exploring the nature of free will, aiming to determine if we truly possess it. This article serves as a stepping stone for us to embark on this exploration together.
Let’s start with a simple explanation.
Does the Earth have free will?
Well, the Earth rotates around the Sun. Why does it rotate? Because of the Sun’s gravitational field. So, the Earth is not in control of its motion. It is just drifting in the gravitational field of the Sun and the planets around it. The Earth’s motion is entirely determined by external factors, devoid of any decision-making capacity.
let’s extend this logic to humans:
Applying the same logic to humans, we can conduct a thought experiment. When faced with a given situation, individuals respond based on their knowledge, experiences, and external influences. Different people may react differently because they possess unique backgrounds and perspectives. However, if two identical individuals with precisely the same knowledge and experiences were placed in an identical situation, would their actions be the same? It is plausible to assume that they would indeed act in the same way.
The Human Replica Experiment: Let us push this concept further into the realm of science fiction. Imagine that a hundred years from now, humanity has developed the technology to extract all data from a human brain and create an exact digital replica, indistinguishable from the original person. Now, if we were to subject this digital replica to the same situation that the original human-faced, would it react in the same manner? If the digital replica’s actions are indeed identical to the human’s, it raises an intriguing question: are human actions predetermined by their internal makeup and external influences?
The Determinism Debate: The concept of determinism posits that all events, including human actions, are the inevitable result of antecedent causes. If determinism holds true, it implies that every decision we make and action we take can be traced back to prior causes — be it our genetics, upbringing, environment, or experiences. Consequently, the notion of free will seems to diminish under the weight of determinism, as our actions can be seen as predetermined, even before they occur.
One of the basic reasons people don’t like to believe in free will is because if someone accepts its existence, it implies that all their success is just a result of cause and effect, where they are merely observers rather than active agents.
Knowing the fact that all your actions are determined, what would you do differently next time?
If you have read this article this far, you are among the 0.001% who have been able to at least explore the possibility that we might not have free will that rare. Let’s connect on Twitter at
