Causality and Free Will: Philosophical Perspectives on Human Agency

This assignment presents a student's analysis of the concepts of causality and free will, drawing upon philosophical perspectives. The student identifies as a libertarian, aligning with the views of Aristotle and Aquinas, emphasizing the role of cause and effect and the improbability of a universe governed solely by chance. The response addresses the relationship between science and religion, acknowledging their differing approaches to understanding the universe. Furthermore, the assignment discusses how the student's perspective on libertarianism is applicable in the context of an example scenario, highlighting the interplay of free will and pre-determined events. The provided references support the arguments made throughout the assignment.

Running Head: CAUSALTY AND FREE WILL
Causality and Free Will
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1CAUSALITY AND FREE WILL
Table of Contents
Response to Question 1...................................................................................................................2
Response to Question 2...................................................................................................................2
Response to Question 3...................................................................................................................2
References........................................................................................................................................3

2CAUSALITY AND FREE WILL
Response to Question 1
Based on reviewing the position on causality, I would place myself as libertarian in
accordance to the theories and explanation of free will as projected by Aristotle and extracted
Aquinas. The reason behind the stance is the projection of reality as something and anything by
chance is too random for the complete physics of the universe could not be an occurrence based
on chance. The presence of reasons which stands to form the end product is too evident to be
ignored.
Response to Question 2
The relationship between science and religion is hard to comprehend in its entirety and
the debate regarding is age long. My thoughts regarding the assertion that there is not much
difference between science and religion is that they both tend to be showing or indicating the
universe as a creation of someone or something complete in itself and being wholly (Hoffmann,
& Michon, 2017). Yet, I tend to incline towards the opposite for science expects a complete and
extreme proof of any existence and religion is based on the belief of an individual.
Response to Question 3
Basing my review on the Libertarian theory of causality, a person visiting a cafeteria can
miss his regular visit and can avoid an accident which occurs there in his absence (Janakiefski,
2017). People can argue that missing the visit might completely be a free will but then the
knowledge of the accident occurring cannot have been known to the person previously. So, the
fact that the visit is missed on the day of the accident is the result of the free will but the
causality was determined beforehand.

3CAUSALITY AND FREE WILL
References
Hoffmann, T., & Michon, C. (2017). Aquinas on Free Will and Intellectual Determinism.
Janakiefski, K. (2017). Preserving Human Freedom: Aquinas on Divine Transcendence and
Creaturely Contingency. Dianoia: The Undergraduate Philosophy Journal of Boston
College, (IV).