Poverty and Wealth - Essay Example

Fate or Free Will? Teacher               Fate or Free Will? Me: I know one very poor man before who stole money in order to buy food for his hungry children and wife. I admired him for I believe he did not do anything wrong. Socrates: Why is that so? Me: Because he only acted according to reason. He was hungry so the only reasonable thing to do was to eat. Isn’t it your philosophy, Socrates, that one must act according to reason? Socrates: It is. It is. However, what is reasonable is what is good and virtuous. Me: I am afraid I cannot exactly understand that. Socrates: The soul is “drawn to the good, the ideal, and so is drawn to God,” and the rational part of the soul is the source of reason (Boerce, 2009). What can you therefore conclude from this? Me: That reason must be synonymous to the good and the ideal and whatever is drawn to God? Socrates: Indeed. And so what do you make of what that man in your example did? Me: I suppose then that he did not act according to reason. Socrates: Yes, but what made you say that? Me: Because he did something wrong. Socrates: Indeed, and so what do you think now of the man who did not act according to reason? Me: I think he was a bad man, an evil one. Socrates: Why do you suppose he’s evil? Me: Because he did something evil. Socrates: So when you paint something, then you’re a painter already? Me: No, not necessarily. Socrates: So when you do something evil, then you’re evil? Me: No, not necessarily. Socrates: In fact, one who does evil does so only because he was ignorant of the good. The only virtue is knowledge and the only vice is ignorance (Taylor, 2006). Me: Are you trying to tell me Socrates that people do evil things only because they are ignorant of the good? Socrates: Yes, that is true. Me: Does it therefore mean that if everyone had knowledge, then there would be nobody who would do evil? Socrates: No. Me: Then why is that so, because I thought that it was only ignorance that would make someone do something evil? Socrates: Because of free will. Although the tendency of the soul is towards the good, this is only the tendency. Suppose you tend to cry when you are hurt, does it mean do you always cry when you are hurt? Me: No, not necessarily. Socrates: Very well, then it is therefore the same with the soul. In fact, “All actions involve soul, and contain much good and much evil” (Plato, Republic, 2013, 904a). It means all our actions – even the evil action of the man in your example – were directed by the soul. However, they were directed by different parts. Me: What is the significance of the parts? Socrates: If an action is directed only by the appetitive or spirited parts of the soul, then it can be an evil action. However, if it is directed by the rational part, then it is always good. Me: Because reason always tends towards the good? Socrates: Yes, it does. Me: Does it therefore mean that man has the ability to do as he wishes, like let only the appetitive part of his soul direct his actions? Socrates: Yes, it is. And do you know what it is called? Me: No. What is it? Socrates: Free will. Me: So, free will exists then, Socrates, and are you now trying to tell me that the man in my example stole because of free will? Socrates: Yes, he did. Me: But he did not want to do it. As he told me, he was only forced by his circumstances. I myself believe in determinism – that all events are ultimately determined by causes that are external to human will. These events, or the things that happen, even include human action. That man was hungry that is why he stole. It is therefore preposterous to think that he wanted to steal out of free will. There was an explanatory cause, or a cause that ultimately explains his action of stealing. That explanatory cause was hunger. Had he not been hungry, he would not have stolen the money. I am sure you understand and agree with me, Socrates. Socrates: I understand you, but I do not necessarily agree. Me: But why is that so? Is there anything illogical or unreasonable in what I have just said? Socrates: Yes, there is. When your friend stole the money, did he want it? Me: No, he didn’t. Socrates: But did he will his body to carry out the task? Me: Obviously, he did. Otherwise, he could not have done it. Socrates: And did anyone tell him to do it? Me: His children perhaps, or even his wife. Socrates: But could he have refused such an act without considering the situation he was in? Me: Yes, he could have refused it. Socrates: But he did not, and under whose power do you believe he agreed had his children and wife been the ones who asked him to steal? Me: It was under his power. Socrates: Yes, for evil, although existing in various types, is “not so much a compulsion,” and in fact it is “voluntary” just like the good man’s decision to do good (Dilman, 1999). Me: So, free will exists. Socrates: Yes, as directed by his appetitive part of the soul. Me: But the appetitive part of the soul now becomes the explanatory cause of this “free” will, am I right? Socrates: Yes, and when this aspect is considered then free will coexists with determinism. Me: OMG. How confusing! How could that be possible, Socrates? Socrates: Basically, one possesses free will as one freely chooses which part of the soul he should follow – the appetitive, the rational, and the spirited. Do you follow? Me: Yes. Socrates: However, it is also a fact that one cannot be fully or totally liberated from the appetitive and the spirited desires (O’Connor, 2010). Do you agree and why do think so if you do? Me: Yes, I do agree. I cannot escape hunger or anger, for example. Perhaps, it is because I have a body. Socrates: That is right, and what is true freedom of the will then? Me: Perhaps, true freedom can be attained only if one liberates himself from both the appetitive and the spirited parts of the soul (O’Connor, 2010). Please tell me if I am wrong. Socrates: You are right, and no man can ever separate himself from the appetitive and spirited parts as long as he is alive. Moreover, one should know that “For when [the soul] tries to consider anything in company with the body, it is evidently deceived by it” (Plato, Phaedo, 64c). Therefore, the soul is not free as long as it is with the body, as long as one is alive. This is the part of the soul that conforms to determinism. Me: I perfectly understand, Socrates. I begin to despise the body now. Socrates: The body may have its own purpose, but “the philosopher greatly despises the body” perhaps because of the same reasons you have now (Plato, Phaedo, 2013, 65d). Me: Thank you for hinting that I could be a philosopher too, Socrates, but going back to the situation of the very poor man in my example, do you think it was only his own choice to steal? Socrates: Indeed, it was. However, it was not purely free will on his part, because the fact that he has within him and working at the same time – the appetitive, spirited and rational desires – may have in fact deceived him. What is human choice then? Me: Human choice is the action that results from being governed by external determinism and possessing internal free will – both existing at the same time. So, in short, what are you trying to tell me about that man, Socrates? Socrates: That he did make a choice that he could otherwise have refused or that he had the power to cancel, but that he did make this choice only after his appetitive desires have deceived him, human as he was. However, we cannot conclude anything whether he was a good man or an evil man. We can only say he was not wise enough. Me: Why is that so? Socrates: A wise man always obeys reason regardless of what the appetitive and spirited parts tell him. Wise men are very rare. Me: That is why you are rare, Socrates. References Boerce, G. C. (2009). The Ancient Greeks, Part Two: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Retrieved from Shippensburg University: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/athenians.html Dilman, I. (1999). Free Will: An Historical and Philosophical Introduction. New York, NY: Routledge, 25. O’Connor, T. (2010). Free Will. Retrieved from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/ Plato. (2013). Phaedo. Retrieved from Tufts University: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0170%3Atext%3DPhaedo%3Asection%3D65d Plato. (2013). Republic. Retrieved from Tufts University: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0166%3Abook%3D10%3Asection%3D904a Taylor, R. (2006). Determinism: A Historical Survey. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3446800500/determinism-historical-survey.html Read More