THE PHILOSO-FILES:
Is there more to life than determinism?

October 22, 2009 by Leslie Ventura 

Does the philosophy confuse us or does it close the door of free will?

A student’s thoughts are like fish without water, flopping around in an empty bowl until we give them water or make sense of them. And while we know college life can be a struggle, with the deadly combination of work, school and that thing called a life, we often forget the “fish” that float upstairs.

Perhaps that’s why I find it comforting to read about people that view the world in a similar way, and I would assume that it’s the beginning of why we enjoy philosophy.

Being exposed to different philosophical ideas can completely change the way someone perceives their environment.
With 28,605 students attending UNLV as of last fall, there are obviously a lot of different thoughts, perceptions and opinions on campus. As you walk to class every morning, you pass hundreds of students at a time, all who are thinking different things.

Joe Schmoe is probably thinking about last night’s hookup, Sandy is thinking about her test at two and I’m sitting here, missing class, contemplating the idea of determinism.

Somehow, I don’t think “It was my fate to miss class today” will win over my professors.

Yet ever since I learned just the surface of what there is to know about determinism, I haven’t felt the same.
Reading “Notes From Underground” by Fyodor Dostoevsky in my philosophy of literature class was part of my informal introduction to determinism.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines determinism as “the idea that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of nature. The idea is ancient, but first became subject to clarification and mathematical analysis in the eighteenth century.”

In the underground man’s case, determinism prevented him from doing any real living.

For someone who has always held secular beliefs, the idea of a pre-determined life based on science completely shook me. Though the idea is different from the religious context of fate, determinism opens wide a door of thought and confusion and closes the door of free will.

I was never one to believe “everything happens for a reason” or “if it is meant to be, it will be.” Now I contemplate these things on a regular basis.

Aware that many philosophers and scientists believe deterministic theory to be true, I wonder why more people aren’t turning to determinism as a way of understanding life.

Is it futile? Too hopeless? Do experts still believe that there is more to life than determinism?

All of these thoughts have entered my head many times since my first exposure to the theory. My curiosity and interest in my own free will has sparked many debates with friends and family and I am interested in learning more about different philosophical perspectives and sharing them with others.

Perhaps you don’t feel like a fish without water. Maybe a student who hasn’t slept in for 32 hours is more accurate, but I’m guessing it’s a similar feeling. Either way, I’m writing to explore your thoughts and perceptions of your world and your environment.

Philosophy is a subject with a lot of stereotypes. Often people who are interested in these ideas don’t try to learn more about them for fear of not understanding the literature – even though these theories can completely change the way we live our lives.

For example, some people may find solace in deterministic theory. Knowing everything that has happened up to this point was more or less out of their control is a comfort and there is satisfaction in knowing that their future truly awaits them.

There are people like the underground man, who are plagued by the idea of determinism and are prevented from living a productive life because the idea of not having free will strips humankind of its very essence.

And there are people like me, somewhere in between the extremes, trying to make sense of it all.

I hope you find an interest in the topics discussed here.

Whatever you believe, college is meant to shake your foundations. If you haven’t ever questioned your beliefs before, maybe you haven’t looked hard enough.

So tell me, how do you perceive your world?

THE PHILOSO-PHILES is an effort to bring philosophical theories and perspectives into everyday student life.