Free Will (4)

Theological determinism refers to the belief that all events that occur in the world are predetermined by a monotheistic deity. There are two main forms of this belief: strong theological determinism and weak theological determinism. Strong theological determinism posits that a creator deity dictates all events in history, while weak theological determinism holds that the future is fixed due to the deity's omniscient foreknowledge. Some variations of these views include the belief that the deity has predestined all events and outcomes, or that the weaker version does not qualify as theological determinism at all. Theological determinism can also be seen as a form of causal determinism, in which the cause is the will of the deity. In relation to the concept of free will, theological determinism suggests that the deity has predetermined all actions and outcomes, potentially negating the existence of human free will.

The concept of theological determinism suggests that all events that occur in the world have been predetermined by a divine being, such as a monotheistic deity. There are two forms of theological determinism: strong theological determinism, which states that all events have been predestined by an all-knowing and all-powerful deity, and weak theological determinism, which states that all events are predetermined based on the deity's perfect knowledge of the future. The belief in strong theological determinism is incompatible with the idea of metaphysical libertarian free will, as it suggests that humans do not have control over their actions. On the other hand, the belief in weak theological determinism may be seen as compatible or incompatible with metaphysical libertarian free will, depending on how one interprets the concept of omniscience. If one believes that the deity's knowledge of the future does not affect the outcome of events, then it may be seen as compatible with the idea of free will. However, if one believes that the deity's knowledge determines the outcome of events, then it may be seen as incompatible with the idea of free will. In either case, the concept of theological determinism raises questions about the nature of free will and the role of a divine being in determining the course of events.

Theological fatalism, a subcategory of weak theological determinism, is the belief that everything that will happen has been predetermined by a deity and is therefore inevitable. This belief is incompatible with the concept of metaphysical libertarian free will, which asserts that individuals have the ability to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or external factors.

On the other hand, soft theological determinism, another subcategory of weak theological determinism, holds that while a deity may have knowledge of all future events, human beings still have the ability to make free choices. This belief is known as theological compatibilism, as it sees free will and determinism as compatible concepts.

There are various responses to the argument for theological fatalism. One is to deny the truth value of future contingents, though this also denies the existence of divine foreknowledge and therefore weak theological determinism. Another approach is to posit differences in non-temporal knowledge, as proposed by philosophers such as Boethius, Thomas Aquinas, and C.S. Lewis. A third response is to challenge the Principle of Alternate Possibilities, which states that a choice is not made freely if the individual could not have done otherwise. Some argue that the existence of a machine that can predict the future does not affect the outcome of events, and therefore does not negate the concept of free will.

The concept of free will is a contentious one, with different approaches taken depending on one's understanding of determinism. On one end of the spectrum is hard determinism, which asserts that all events, including human actions, are predetermined and that free will is an illusion. At the other end is metaphysical libertarianism, which asserts that individuals have true free will and that their actions are not predetermined. In between these two extremes lies compatibilism, which asserts that free will is compatible with determinism. One form of determinism that is often considered in discussions of free will is theological determinism, which holds that all events are predetermined by a deity. This can be further divided into strong and weak versions, with the strong version holding that free will does not exist and the weak version holding that free will exists but is compatible with predetermination. The compatibility of free will with theological determinism is a point of debate, with some arguing for compatibilism and others for incompatibilism. Overall, the concept of free will is a complex and multifaceted one, with various approaches taken depending on one's understanding of determinism and the role of higher powers in the universe.

The concept of free will has also been debated in the context of physicalism, the idea that the mind and consciousness can be fully explained by the physical workings of the brain. Some proponents of physicalism argue that determinism, the idea that all events are determined by prior causes, is true and therefore free will is an illusion. This view, known as hard determinism, asserts that free will is incompatible with determinism. Others, known as compatibilists, argue that free will is compatible with determinism, and that determinism does not necessarily negate the existence of free will. Some physicalists, known as libertarians, argue that free will is compatible with indeterminism, the idea that some events are not determined by prior causes and are instead the result of chance. This view asserts that the concept of free will is not incompatible with either determinism or indeterminism.

Free will, a concept central to many philosophical and religious discussions, refers to the belief that humans have the ability to make choices that are not determined by outside forces. This idea is often linked to the mind-body problem, which deals with the relationship between the non-physical mind and the physical body. There are several approaches to this problem, including Cartesian dualism, which holds that the mind is a separate non-physical substance that controls the body, and physicalism, which asserts that everything that exists can be reduced to its physical properties and that there are no non-physical substances such as minds. Incompatibilism, the belief that free will is incompatible with determinism, requires a distinction between the mind and the body, and holds that the mind has the ability to influence physical reality. Despite these debates, it is still not fully understood how consciousness and free will interact with the physical world.