Do you believe in fate or free will?

The question of whether or not we have free will

has huge implications in every aspect of life. For example; personal success and
skill would become simply a product of luckthe person having been born into their
specific environment purely out of chance. Someone having a loving family that
imparted moral values and ideals, work ethic, an education, along with biological
aspects such as genetics summing up a foundation for everything that person is and
ever will beall happening by chance. It is impossible to argue that his entire life
was not a lottery ticketpure luck. Likewise, a bad person is no different, simply
having won the inverse of that lottery ticket.

When asked the question of fate vs free will, most people would replywithout
much thoughtthat they believe in free will, and why wouldnt they? It certainly
seems that we have free will, in-fact, they could say that they are choosing to even
have that conversation, and could easily leave if they wanted to. Most of these
same people have never explored the idea of free will or its counterpartfate. Free
will is defined by most people as the capacity to choose between two options
independently; without external influence.

In Minority Report, John Anderton and Danny Witwer l have a philosophical

exchange regarding fate: Anderton rolls a ball towards the edge of the table and
Witwer--seeing that the ball is clearly going to fall--catches it. When Anderton asks
him why he caught it, he replies Because it was going to fall. To which, Anderton
says How do you know? You caught it before it fell. If I told you Witwer catching
that ball was not his own free will, many of you would likely disagree, but bear with
me. Witwers decision to catch the ball was only the illusion of choice, it can be
analyzed as an underlying impulse within him triggering a reflex to catch that ball.
Essentially, his brain told him to do it potentially seconds before he even thought
about it.

Taking the example a murderer: If this man were to cite childhood beatings and
abuse, imprinting upon on certain violent characteristicsas children tend to mimic
what they seealong with potentially a genetic pre-disposition towards lack of
impulse control and anger, would you forgive him for brutally killing and mutilating
a pre-school teacher and three 5-year olds? Probably not, I wouldnt either. This man
committed an abominable act and deserves every bit of his punishment, but is it his
fault for having been born into the environment that he had been? He did not
choose his parents, his genetics, or his abuse. Regardless, he would still not be
forgiven. But--if he had a tumor in a section of his brain that leads to violent
outbursts, and he showed remorse for what he had donein addition to attempting
suicide, would you not feel some sympathy? Had you been born into his exact same
position and became him, atom-for-atom, his brain, his life experiences, all leading
up to this one act, could you have done any differently? I do not see any feasible

position in which you could say yes.

However, the notion that we have no free will is potentially detrimental if

misunderstood. One who believes they are confined to their fate may potentially
become complacent in their situation-- a learned helplessness--and would thus have
ultimately become their fate. There is a solution to this problem, though. Take the
example of a person on a diet, their immediate body is craving something the dieter
perceives to be unhealthy, but for the moment they have disregarded that fact in
favor of their monkey-like desire for instant gratification. However, this person has
made it a habit to remind themselves that they have a choice, and through this is
reminded that they are on a diet and would prefer to eat something healthy.

In conclusion, free will is a difficult concept to abandon, but it is simply not logically
sound. The abandonment of this concept brings a benefitpatience our fellow man.
When you see someone--like a drug addict--and view them as undisciplined,
recognize that it is not necessarily their choice to have been born into their life and
were not exposed to the same complex environmental factors that make you who
you are.
If you want to help people, be that factor. Be that nudge in the right direction. Let
them know they can change.