The science and philosophy of free will: Does it exist after all?

Is there free will? For centuries, different fields of study have been trying to answer this metaphysical question. As complex as the place where “I” was born, Philosophers and scientists are studying the mind and biological body, where this battle is born..

According to some scientific movements, our choices are determined by our genes and the areas we develop. For others, despite all this burden, we can be agents of self-transformation by choosing the course of our lives.

So, in your opinion, do we really have the freedom to choose, or are we determined to think, be and act that way? Learn more about free will.

What is free will?

A simple definition of free will is the freedom to choose independently between alternatives. This choice can range from the simplest daily items, such as whether or not to drink coffee in the morning, to changing careers, countries and lives simply because you want to.

For creationist theists Free will has existed since the creation of human beings.This is a divine gift for man, who can freely choose to follow God or reject Him as he wishes.

However, this gift also brings with it a responsibility. Since you are free to choose, you must also be responsible for your choices. Another philosophical perspective says that free will is just an illusion and that your choices are determined by your genetics and the environment in which you grew up..

From this perspective, your responsibility for your choices is almost zero, because no matter your will, you will always be led to choices that are not under your control. We don’t have a definitive answer between one point and the next.

Was I the one who chose?

Ours Thought arises from the activation of different groups of neurons This will determine how an activity will be selected or performed. But this choice may be pre-programmed in your genes.

We inherit genetics from our ancestors and grow up in cultures that shape us socially. This “prescription” shapes who we are, how we think, and how we should act in moral behavior. This structure that determines an outcome is called Determinism.

According to this philosophical movement, no matter what kind of desire we actually have, the ultimate choice will always be determined by something dictated to us. Therefore free will would be just an illusion. You think you’ve chosen, but the culture around you, your friends, your beliefs, and everything else has already chosen before you even think about standing up.

Based on this assumption, Since we are not the ones who choose, who is responsible for our actions?

On the contrary, we, who defend free will, are active actors in transforming our own history. Therefore, not only do we have the ability to choose according to our own will, but we must also take responsibility for our decisions.

For indeterminists, genetic factors are important, but culture are also factors that contribute to decisions and are not something that will determine how the story ends. Who does he fight against? status quo, let him say it.

Where is the self born, is free will born there?

The details of how our brain works are not yet fully understood. We know how synapses are formed and how cellular communication is triggered to achieve who we are, but where does consciousness arise?

Metaphysics persists as we discuss where the “I” is born, choices, and how we play our roles in the world. Human complexity goes far beyond the optimal performance of a cellular organism..

Despite factors that cannot be genetically inherited, such as the color of your eyes, skin or nose that you may hate, how you think and behave can be changed through contact with other cultures and new knowledge, although it is influenced by the context in which you live. .

Even in neuroscience there is the concept of brain plasticity, which can be conceptualized as: The brain’s ability to changeCreating new neural pathways in response to environmental or cognitive stimuli in continuous learning.

Considering different scenarios, It is fateful to say that there is no concrete answer regarding free will based on current science..

But the day may come when our brains are fully mapped and we finally find answers to these and other unique questions that hover between science, existential philosophy, and human uniqueness.

Did you like the content? So stay updated with more topics like this on TecMundo and take the opportunity to learn about the discovery of the mechanism that may be responsible for human consciousness.