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Does "Free Will" Exist and if so, to What Extent does it Exist? The concept of "Free Will" has been debated by many philosophers over a period of centuries, not only regarding its very existence but also regarding its elements, the extent to which it may or may not exist and its moral implications. Our assigned readings have merely touched on debates that have raged and will probably continue to rage as long as human beings contemplate the "truths" about being. Though an exhaustive review of differing philosophical treatments of "Free Will" would probably take hundreds of pages, this work will briefly examine several major philosophies of "Free Will" and some of their most notable proponents. In reviewing these sources and differing approaches to "Free Will," we can see that philosophers approach the concept of "Free Will" with differing definitions, examining disparate aspects and resulting in somewhat different implications for Morality. It is fortunate that this work does not require a definitive conclusion about the existence and impact of "Free Will," for review of sources from class reading and independent reading reveals that the only definitive conclusion can be that there is no definitive conclusion. It appears that each philosopher in his turn treats Free Will and aspects of Free Will somewhat differently and arrives at unique conclusions. Descartes takes the most extreme position examined, apparently believing that there is Free Will and that it is completely unrestrained and undiminished by divine grace or natural knowledge. Immanuel Kant believed that there is Free Will but it is based solely in the rational aspect of the human being and is known essentially because we rationally know that we have certain incontrovertible duties. Roderick Chisholm believes that there is Free Will but that it is specifically linked to a type of "agent causation" as opposed to transeunt or "event" causation. Peter Van Inwagen believes that there is Free Will but only in a very small set of circumstances illustrated by "a garden of forking paths," some of which are illusions. Daniel M. Wegner believes that there is Free Will but that much of our supposed Free Will or Conscious Will is actually a simplistic illusion created for our benefits by our minds. Finally, Benjamin Libet believes there is Free Will but simultaneously refutes much of the traditional notion of Free Will through experiments indicating that many of our actions precede our will and that our exercise of Free Will primarily resides in controlling commenced actions by "vetoing" them. In sum, without even addressing the work of philosophers who do not believe in the existence of Free Will at all, we see disparate approaches to Free Will, to its nature, to its extent and to its moral implications. Indeed, some of these philosophers themselves decry the "incoherence" of philosophical treatments of "Free Will" while attempting to contribute their own thoughts on a vital philosophical topic that shows no signs of uniform conclusions.

I grew up in China, the oldest of two daughters. My family unit, my gender, and my culture all had strong impacts on the way I have lived my life and on the way I live my life now. Who I am now is a direct reflection of…

Conflict Themes in "Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton

Tax code section 721 "provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized to a partnership or to any of its partners in the case of a contribution of property to the partnership in exchange for an interest in the…

While Sula is the main character (protagonist) in the novel, as the title indicates, her relationship with her female friend, Nel is additionally significant. This paper will examine the character development of Nel referencing both her character as well as the relationships she has with other characters in the novel, primarily through her best friendship with Sula.

Confucianism and Daoism are Chinese religious traditions. While they are considered by some to be very different they are often actually woven together (Mou, 78). The teachings of one are often relatively consistent…

¶ … ceremonies of the Hopi tribe of the American Southwest, and the Assiniboine of the Northern Plains. The Assiniboine engage in the Sun Dance as one of their major ceremonies, while the Hopi engage in the Snake Dance…

Shukumar did not ever really Shoba; a a thorough analysis of key passages in Lahiri's work of fiction reveals that the man merely was infatuated with how his wife looked. Shoba, for her part, discerned this lack of sincerity on the part of her husband. Since their marriage was based on fleeting superficialities, it was bound to fail.

John Kogut's life was irrevocably changed when the police of Nassau County decided he was guilty of the abduction, rape, and murder of 16-year old Teresa Fusco in 1984. After spending 18 years in prison he was released because DNA evidence revealed that he had not raped the victim. The prosecutor, unwilling to let go of his conviction, retried Kogut for the crimes and failed when testimony revealed that the confession was likely coerced and the main corroborating evidence was planted by the police. Although free today, Kogut's will never know how his life would have turned out if allowed to travel its natural course unhindered by the overzealous police and prosecutor.

Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott is an episodic novel, which means it does not have a consistent protagonist running through the entire book. However, any reader asked to nominate a main character in the novel would…