Significant Influences of Free Will and Determinism Over People's Choices

Journal 7
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Journal 7
The compatibility of free will and determinism has long been a debated issue. This is because these two factors act independently yet both have significant influence over the choices an individual makes (Cahn, 2004). Free will assumes that human beings are free to make their own decisions in a rational manner. On the other hand, determinism assumes that all behavior is predictable because it is influenced by preceding factors. The dilemma then becomes determining whether individuals act from free will and determinism or from either free will or determinism.
In the case of ‘Moby Dick’, Captain Ahab faces this challenge in chapter 132. To Ahab, the decision to leave home and continuously pursue the whale for many years on end is puzzling. The fact that he consciously chose this life is indicative of free will acting in his life. How...