FREE WILL AND DETERMINISM: THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS OF HUMAN DECISIONS

Abstract

Free will and determinism are one of the most deep-rooted and controversial topics in philosophy. While the existence of free will raises the question of whether individuals can be responsible for their own actions; Determinism argues that all events in the universe necessarily occur within the framework of cause-effect relationships. In this context, the question of the extent to which human decisions are free has been addressed with both philosophical and scientific approaches.

This study examines the philosophical conflict between free will and determinism with the method of literature review. From ancient times to the modern period, the relationship between these two concepts is evaluated in ethical, metaphysical, and scientific contexts. The views of philosophers such as Epicurus, the Stoics, Kant, Hume and Schopenhauer are discussed; In addition, new approaches in neuroscience and contemporary ethical debates are examined. In the literature, the main differences between the approaches that defend the existence of free will and the views that put forward the certainty of determinism have been revealed. As a result, it has been seen that this philosophical conflict between free will and determinism remains important in the context of the meaning of human decisions and moral responsibility. It has been emphasized that these discussions have opened new horizons in today's world of science and philosophy.