Free Will: An Illusion?

Robert Sapolsky agrees with this notion. Robert Sapolsky is an American academic, neuro scientist and primatologist. He argues that free will is completely determined by biology and environment, including genetics, hormones, life experiences, and culture. In his book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, he concludes that our actions are part of previous events, leaving little room for independent choice. This directly challenges the idea that we control our actions.

Epiphenomenalism is a philosophical theory that adds that while our thoughts, feelings, and conscious experiences are real and important, they do not actually influence our decisions. Our decisions are driven by neurons firing, hormones, and other biological processes. Neural determinism is a philosophical view that reinforces epiphenomenalism, supporting that all our actions can ultimately be traced back to the state of our brain. An example of neural determinism comes from an experiment using brain scans.Participants were asked to choose between two buttons. The scans revealed that the brain had made a decision several seconds before participants consciously chose a button to press. Together, these ideas suggest that the sense of free will may be a feeling rather than reality.

And if our actions are largely determined by biology and brain activity, then it is possible that we may not truly have power over our decisions. Even major decisions, like studying for a test or picking a university may be influenced by underlying biological factors rather than by our free choice.

But our decisions are not only shaped by biology, social environments also play a key role. Social environments have a major impact on the power we have on our decisions. For example, research suggests that when adolescents spend time with their peers, their brains reward them with a rush of stimuli that encourages risky behavior. This is why teenagers are more likely to take risks when their friends are around.

The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and self-control is still developing and doesn’t fully mature until the mid-20s. So, when dopamine floods the brain, it can override the prefrontal cortex, making us act impulsively and do things we might not normally do. Our peers can influence our decision greatly by feeling the need to live up to their standards, and as we try to fit in we often diminish our values, interest, and control over our decisions. Even if it is just pleasing our peers/friends, peer pressure influences us strongly, and the fact we are able to suppress our own decisions for someone else  can mean we don't have absolute power over our decisions.

On the other hand there is valid research suggesting that we have free will, the power to be able to make our own choices. 

A point in defense of having the power over our decisions is the concept of Compatibilism. Even though determinism suggests that our actions and choices are influenced by external factors. Compatibilism argues that humans are still responsible for their actions and decisions. Even if some influences exist, we still have the ability to make our own choices and should be held accountable for them. This idea applies to all areas of life in our ever-changing world, as every action and decision carries a consequence, and there would be no consequences if we weren’t truly in control of our choices.

Another point of view is Peter Tse’s, a neuroscientist in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in Dartmouth College. He also defends that we have power over our decisions. that decisions are not chosen by our human biology. He introduces a concept called second-order free will, which introduces the concept that individuals have the power to make decisions and can choose to work toward becoming a better version of themselves, by deciding to set goals. Those goals are then deeply rooted in their minds as the human brain is rewritten to be able to work toward those goals set, to make decisions to be able to reach that goal.  For example, the goal of wanting to buy a car. In order to achieve the goal, there are decisions made to align with that goal such as opening up a savings account.

This shows that people can consciously plan and make decisions. The decisions that were made to align with that goal of wanting to buy a car result from deliberate decision-making rather than being fully determined by biology. It suggests that free will is not merely an illusion, as Peter Tse highlights that free will is something that we have and is a real phenomenon that connects the mind, brain, and soul through a conscious choice.

To sum it up, I believe that power is, to some extent, an illusion.There are too many external factors influencing our subconscious and even some of our short-term conscious choices for us to claim full control. Still, we play a role in the decisions we make whether it is choosing where to live or simply which fruit to eat, a banana or an apple. We are not completely powerless in our choices. Life is a mix of forces beyond us and choices within us. Although outside influences may largely shape the decisions we make, we still have a part in steering our own decisions. We are not just passengers roaming free in our own minds.