Free Will and Determinism. Are both just an illusion or do they hold some truth? (PDF)

Essay from the year 2021 in the subject Philosophy - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, Saarland University, course: Philosophie des Geistes, language: English, abstract: The possibility of free will has been discussed for a very long time. Similarly, the question whether our world is determined has been discussed for an equally long time. It did not take long until the discussion united both aspects and the question whether free will and determinism could both be true at the same time or if they excluded one another was asked.

This paper will argue in favor of free will by presenting arguments in favor as well as disprove some of the arguments against it. In the next step, determinism will be criticized and arguments that are regularly brought forward to defend determinism will be proven wrong. We will then examine whether compatibilism could still be true, but this will only prove to be the final nail in the coffin for determinism. Being free in our actions and being able to change and influence the world around us is at first glance a rather intuitive position. However, this essay will back up our intuition by analyzing different arguments in favor and against the different components.