Free Will from the Perspective of Mulla Sadra and Determinism
Subject Areas : Intellectual explorations
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Abstract :
Free will is one of the most significant issues discussed in philosophy. Every human being, through introspection, perceives the self-evident nature of free will. Free will refers to the capacity of a rational being to choose one option from among several alternatives. Mulla Sadra explains free will by considering rational perception and the human soul, arguing that, based on these, humans possess the condition of alternative possibilities. However, some philosophical schools, such as causal determinism, have put forward arguments that deny the condition of alternative possibilities, thus rejecting human free will. Therefore, this paper seeks to compare Mulla Sadra's view with determinism regarding free will and volition through a descriptive-analytical method. Additionally, the foundations of determinism will be reviewed and examined. It appears that the principles of determinism, such as the law of causal necessity, cannot negate human free will.
