The compatibility of free will and causal determinism

 自由意愿是指人类有能力去决定自己的行为，不是由外力决定的。决定论是指人类的行为受到外界因素的干扰。不管是哪种，都有合理和不合理的方面。一个人的行为可以表现出这个人素质和性格，然而，行为是需要符合自然法则的。

The discussion on whether we have free will in determining of our actions, or our actions are decided by forces beyond our control began from long time ago　(Campbell, 1957). In the earlier times, the forces beyond our control referred to the whims of the gods. However, nowadays it refers to the deterministic lines of our brains’ work. Moreover, in modern times much attention has been shifted from the debate between the “determinists” and the “anti-determinists”, to that between the “compatibilists” and the “anti-compatibilists”. As far as the author was concerned, free will and determinism are compatible, which is also supported by Ayer. In order to make compatibilism and anti-compatibilism clear, the definition of free will and determinism should be given. Free will (Daniel, 2003) means that human race has the ability to decide their own actions, which is not determined by other forces. The forces can be the influence of others or the natural laws. That means people’s actions were not coerced or restrained. To many people, free will is the gift given by God. On the other hand, determinism means that the actions of human being is determined by some causes, so sometimes determinism equals to causal determinism, which is known as cause-and effect. It stands for that every event is decided by antecedent events and conditions. Casual determinists agree that nothing in the world is self-caused. Based on the definition of free will and causal determinism, philosophers have created four possible positions: one position of compatibilism and three positions of anti-compatibilism. Compatibilism supports that in some aspects free will is compatible with determinism. Anti-compatibilism does not admit this kind of possibility. The first kind of compatiblism supports that both determinism and free will do not exist, which is called hard anti-compatibilism. The second kind is called libertarianism which says that determinism does not hold, but free will might exist. The third kind is called hard determinism which believes that determinism does hold and free with does not exist. 

According to Ayer, determinism and free will are compatible. He said that when we said “free” we didn't mean “uncaused”. Instead, it means “unconstrained”. There are plenty of acts that are unconstrained and therefore free. Determinism does not undermine our belief in human freedom. (Ayer, 1954).It is wrong to assume that “free” is the opposite of “determined”. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that men are capable of acting freely, so that men are responsible for their actions. Moreover, human actions are governed by causal laws. What has been said above is conflict to the beliefs supported by both of the determinism and free will. As a result, Ayer pointed out that: people are capable of acting freely; determinism is true; acting freely and being causally determined are compatible. 

Personally speaking, Ayer’s belief makes some sense, that is to say, determinism and free will are compatible. That is because both free will and determinism is reasonable in some aspects. To begin with, free will is necessary for the notion of personal responsibility. If people do not have free will, then it is difficult to argue that they are personally and morally responsible for their actions - and if that is the case, how can they be punished for their misdeeds? In fact, how can they be praised for the good things they do, if those actions were not also freely chosen (Kane, 1998). Therefore, the actions of human race are chosen by the person himself. However, the actions the person chosen are not totally decided by himself. Ayer once said that when I am said to have something of my own free will it is implied that I could have acted otherwise. That means there are limited possibilities of human choices. These possibilities of choices are actually determined by the antecedent events and conditions. Therefore, it can be seen that the antecedent events and conditions just give human beings some possibilities. Then, human themselves chose their actions from a lot of different possibilities, so that human beings are responsible for what they have done. 

In conclusion, both free will and determinism have the reasonable aspects and unreasonable aspects. Human’s actions are determined by themselves. What a person does can show the person’s morality and character. However, the action is chosen from some possibilities which are determined by some natural law.

References
Ayer, A.J. (1954). Philosophical Essays. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
Campbell, C.A. (1957). On Selfhood and Godhood. New York: MacMillan Company.
Daniel C. (2003). Freedom Evolves. New York: Viking Press.
Kane, R. (1998). The Significance of Free Will. New York: Oxford University Press.




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