Blog Prompt 17: David Hume argues that we already know human behavior is determined. What are his main reasons? Do you think one of the consequences of the argument against free will is that we are not responsible for our actions? Would you feel any differently about your life in general—and your actions, thoughts, and feelings, in particular—if determinism were true? Why or why not?

In an excerpt from his piece, David Hume says that “the most irregular and unexpected resolutions of men may frequently be accounted for by those who know every particular circumstance of their character and situation. A person of an obliging disposition gives a peevish answer: But he has the toothache, or has not dined.”

Hume’s argument is that there is no such thing as free will. Everything we do is a result of cause and effect, and no one acts a certain way for no reason. Therefore, what Hume is implying in the excerpt from above is that when we know somebody really well we can almost tell when there is something wrong with them, and when they do things out of character. For example, my husband is a good and safe driver almost always. Under the conditions that he has to use the bathroom really badly, you would know because his road rage level spikes from 0 to 100 real quick. People who road rage don’t do it because of free will. Nobody thinks “I’m going to be an asshole driver because I can.” Road ragers have a reason, whether it be needing to use the bathroom, late to work, annoyed at another car, etc. It is a cause and effect thing like Hume says.

Just because we don’t have free will though does not mean we are not responsible for our actions. Free will does not mean we don’t have options. We choose between the options we have and depending on which option we choose we are responsible for that choice. I had two choices between getting married or possibly losing the relationship I had with my husband, boyfriend at the time, due to difficult circumstances. I chose to get married without telling my family even though I knew it wasn’t necessarily the wisest choice. Can I say that I was not responsible for that because their is no such thing as free will? No. It wouldn’t make sense.

If what Hume says about determinism is true and there is no such thing as free will, I don’t think it would make me feel any different about my life. Although it is a powerful thing to be able to think that we have freedom within what we do, truthfully we all know that there is always reasoning behind everything so it shouldn’t be much of a shocker in my opinion to find out that free will does not exist. If I try to think of a moment where I acted a certain way or did something out of free will I really can’t. Such as, wanting ice cream. Why did I suddenly have an urge for ice cream? Maybe I saw someone post a photo of ice cream, or it is really hot outside, or I just had lunch and I want dessert.

In the end, determinism is not something new. It is just that before anyone put a label on it we never questioned it. So, even after finding out that perhaps free will does not exist I don’t feel any different about my life in general.

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