Question

In your view, what is the correct account of free-will? Please give an argument for your position.

Answer 1

Free-will is the capacity to select between the various potential ways of conduct which are not hampered by outside constraints. Free-will is also related to the feelings of obligation, approval, remorse, immorality, recommendation, influencing, debating, restriction and other perceptions that are exclusively applicable to the actions which are voluntarily selected.

Free-will is a person's command over his/her deeds. The arguments over the concept of 'Free-will' are in existence since ancient times. The philosophers of the modern era also differ on their views about the true meaning of 'Free-Will.' Some people believe in the concept of afterlife wherein a person is benefited by the good deeds in his/her past life and sufferings in the afterlife, if he/she has done some bad deeds. This influences many people to choose the correct actions to make the afterlife pleasant.

It is also argued that free-will consists of two features; the liberty to do things differently and also the ability for self-reliance. The people who exercise free-will should also be competent to do so. A person using his/her free-will should not be deterred by other people or society.

Free-will is the liberty a person enjoys to select his/her own actions and realization that he/she is solely liable for the repercussions of the actions which are willingly chosen. Free-will is the special characteristic which makes the human beings think ethically and distinguishes us from the animals.

Actually  'Free-will' is not completely a practical concept always. It may seem as delusional because it is not possible for a person to employ free-will in all circumstances. Sometimes, the free-will of a person is influenced by the happenings which had previously taken place and therefore, a person cannot have any control over it.

The genes which we inherit do have an influence over the decisions we make in our life. Also, the concept of right and wrong and moral and immoral actions are also different for different people. Free-will also depends upon the situation a person is in.

The correct account of 'Free-will' therefore, must be that a person should try his/her best to choose and perform those actions which are not only morally correct but also, depend upon the situation. Sometimes, a person has the correct intentions and inclinations but is deterred by other people or the state of affairs prevailing at that time.

An individual must try to exercise free-will whenever it is possible to do so. If an individual ceases to trust in free-will, he/she will be more careless, less adaptable and shirk responsibility. Although, free-will might be used by few people to further their evil intentions overall the employment of free-will will make a person more accountable for his/her actions and will in turn, influence him/her to behave in an ethical way.