Essential Question: What is more powerful, destiny or free will?
The debate between destiny and freewill has been going on since life itself, often clashing in philosophical debates, in society and in religion. Destiny is the concept of life being a predetermined course of events. This definition seemingly contradicts that of free will – the power of an individual’s decisions, acting without the constraint of destiny. Determinists – people that believe in the superior power of destiny – have had their beliefs echoed throughout history, notably in Greek tragedies. Those who believe free will triumphs can refer to Hinduism and its ideals to enforce their opinions. There are also examples of times where destiny and freewill are not conflicting powers but cooperating ones, specifically in Greek literature, contemporary literature and modern success stories. Although the debate of power between destiny and freewill is a controversial one, it is undeniable that these huge concepts play a significant role in our society and in our lives.
Determinists believe that life has already been mapped out for them, that they have no individual will or choice. This is not a new opinion – there are documented examples of this belief dating back to almost 2,600 years, during the period of Ancient Greece. Indeed, Greek tragedies often revolved around destiny, although at the time one’s fate was known as a prophecy. A specific story had a very pro-destiny tone - Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles. In this narrative, Oedipus, King of Thebes, hears a prophecy he doesn’t like. In this prophecy, it states that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Throughout the story he struggles against this statement of destiny, denouncing it as an attempt to dethrone him. He does his best to avoid fulfilling it by refusing to meet his supposed parents until he knows the mother is dead. Despite his attempts, however, the prophecy turns out true. His wife/mother commits suicide and he imposes on himself the penalty of exile. Another sample of pro-destiny literature is Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. The story revolves around the Titan of learning, Prometheus. He possesses the gift of prophecy and knows, like Oedipus did, what lay in store for him. Unlike the King of Thebes, however, Prometheus does not fight against his destiny of awaited pain and intense suffering. Being the Titan of knowledge and wisdom, Prometheus acknowledges that it is futile to fight against one’s fate, and so he gives in. Determinists can refer to this story for affirmation; the wisest people realize the power of destiny and give into it, no matter how ominous it is. These stories really exemplify the supposed power of destiny and the beliefs of Determinists.
Those in favour of free will believe that people make choices independently, that the life of an individual consists of decisions made by them, not destiny. Their belief, like the Determinists, is not recent either, as Hinduism, a very free-will based religion, began more than 3,000 years ago. This free-will example places a lot of weight to an individual’s choices and actions. Hindus believe in reincarnation, the process of being reborn after death. When, where and how you are reborn is determined by a person’s individual decisions. If you make altruistic choices then you are rewarded, and if you make sinful decisions you are punished. There is no mapped out path for you; all the choices you make, good or bad, are yours; they make up who you are. What you do, how you act, and what individual choices you make directly affect your fate. Hindus, in short, believe that you dictate your own future and destiny, a belief echoed by free will groups.
Determinists and pro-free will believers are not the only contributors to the debate – Compatibilists also have a voice. Compatibilists believe that destiny and free will can co-exist without it being logically inconsistent, that they can both play a role in our lives without clashing. This belief in a non-conflicting connection between destiny and free will is supported by Greek literature, contemporary literature and modern success stories. Although some Greek tragedies are pro-destiny, The Trojan Women by Euripides has a more compatibilistic tone. The plot is about the fates of the Trojan women after the Greeks have won the war. Cassandra, a prophetess and a victim of war, has been selected by King Agamemnon to become his wife. She is essentially being forced into marrying the man who killed her father and brother. However, she feels a sort of helpless, dark satisfaction for this turn of events. Being a prophetess, she knows that her life with Agamemnon will end quickly, with the death of them both. She makes the free, individual choice to pursue her alleged prophecy – a perfect example of compatibilism. Some more contemporary examples of compatibilism are the self-fulfilling prophecies from the Percy Jackson series. In The Sea of Monsters and The Titan’s Curse, there is a direct, cooperating relationship between free will and destiny. Self-fulfilling prophecies are statements of destiny that become true because they are carried out by an individual’s free will. For example, in The Sea of Monsters, Clarisse La Rue listens to a prophecy regarding a quest. “You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,” is the first line of this prophecy. Clarisse uses this line to guide her on her quest, going on an iron ship. This line became true because it was used to determine future actions. Both the prophecy and Clarisse’s free will were necessary in completing the quest. Another example can be found in The Titan’s Curse, when a prophecy is heard about a future quest. Because the prophecy stated that “Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,” five people were selected to go on the quest and head west. The prophecy became true because of its audience’s individual decisions. Literature is not the only enforcer for the Compatibilists – modern success stories are also a link between destiny and free will. McKayla Maroney, an Olympic gymnast, believed as a child that it was her destiny to become a gymnast. Because she believed that it was her fate, she made individual choices to change her lifestyle; being home-schooled to fit around her increased gymnastic training, going to a more disciplined gym and “thinking about the Olympics,” at 9 years old. Being in the Olympics was her goal, her destiny – but it was really her own free actions and decisions that made it come true.
Which is more powerful, destiny or free will? Determinists, those that believe destiny triumphs over free will, do have a lot of Greek literature on their side. Those who believe in the power of free will are also supported, namely by the Hindu religion and its ideals. Compatibilists have both fictional and real-life examples to support their idea of destiny and free will as non-clashing, cooperating powers. The debate is controversial and indecisive, but there is one thing that all parties can agree upon. Such huge concepts like fate and free will are extremely powerful and hold a huge effect on our lives and our society.
Determinists believe that life has already been mapped out for them, that they have no individual will or choice. This is not a new opinion – there are documented examples of this belief dating back to almost 2,600 years, during the period of Ancient Greece. Indeed, Greek tragedies often revolved around destiny, although at the time one’s fate was known as a prophecy. A specific story had a very pro-destiny tone - Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles. In this narrative, Oedipus, King of Thebes, hears a prophecy he doesn’t like. In this prophecy, it states that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Throughout the story he struggles against this statement of destiny, denouncing it as an attempt to dethrone him. He does his best to avoid fulfilling it by refusing to meet his supposed parents until he knows the mother is dead. Despite his attempts, however, the prophecy turns out true. His wife/mother commits suicide and he imposes on himself the penalty of exile. Another sample of pro-destiny literature is Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. The story revolves around the Titan of learning, Prometheus. He possesses the gift of prophecy and knows, like Oedipus did, what lay in store for him. Unlike the King of Thebes, however, Prometheus does not fight against his destiny of awaited pain and intense suffering. Being the Titan of knowledge and wisdom, Prometheus acknowledges that it is futile to fight against one’s fate, and so he gives in. Determinists can refer to this story for affirmation; the wisest people realize the power of destiny and give into it, no matter how ominous it is. These stories really exemplify the supposed power of destiny and the beliefs of Determinists.
Those in favour of free will believe that people make choices independently, that the life of an individual consists of decisions made by them, not destiny. Their belief, like the Determinists, is not recent either, as Hinduism, a very free-will based religion, began more than 3,000 years ago. This free-will example places a lot of weight to an individual’s choices and actions. Hindus believe in reincarnation, the process of being reborn after death. When, where and how you are reborn is determined by a person’s individual decisions. If you make altruistic choices then you are rewarded, and if you make sinful decisions you are punished. There is no mapped out path for you; all the choices you make, good or bad, are yours; they make up who you are. What you do, how you act, and what individual choices you make directly affect your fate. Hindus, in short, believe that you dictate your own future and destiny, a belief echoed by free will groups.
Determinists and pro-free will believers are not the only contributors to the debate – Compatibilists also have a voice. Compatibilists believe that destiny and free will can co-exist without it being logically inconsistent, that they can both play a role in our lives without clashing. This belief in a non-conflicting connection between destiny and free will is supported by Greek literature, contemporary literature and modern success stories. Although some Greek tragedies are pro-destiny, The Trojan Women by Euripides has a more compatibilistic tone. The plot is about the fates of the Trojan women after the Greeks have won the war. Cassandra, a prophetess and a victim of war, has been selected by King Agamemnon to become his wife. She is essentially being forced into marrying the man who killed her father and brother. However, she feels a sort of helpless, dark satisfaction for this turn of events. Being a prophetess, she knows that her life with Agamemnon will end quickly, with the death of them both. She makes the free, individual choice to pursue her alleged prophecy – a perfect example of compatibilism. Some more contemporary examples of compatibilism are the self-fulfilling prophecies from the Percy Jackson series. In The Sea of Monsters and The Titan’s Curse, there is a direct, cooperating relationship between free will and destiny. Self-fulfilling prophecies are statements of destiny that become true because they are carried out by an individual’s free will. For example, in The Sea of Monsters, Clarisse La Rue listens to a prophecy regarding a quest. “You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,” is the first line of this prophecy. Clarisse uses this line to guide her on her quest, going on an iron ship. This line became true because it was used to determine future actions. Both the prophecy and Clarisse’s free will were necessary in completing the quest. Another example can be found in The Titan’s Curse, when a prophecy is heard about a future quest. Because the prophecy stated that “Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,” five people were selected to go on the quest and head west. The prophecy became true because of its audience’s individual decisions. Literature is not the only enforcer for the Compatibilists – modern success stories are also a link between destiny and free will. McKayla Maroney, an Olympic gymnast, believed as a child that it was her destiny to become a gymnast. Because she believed that it was her fate, she made individual choices to change her lifestyle; being home-schooled to fit around her increased gymnastic training, going to a more disciplined gym and “thinking about the Olympics,” at 9 years old. Being in the Olympics was her goal, her destiny – but it was really her own free actions and decisions that made it come true.
Which is more powerful, destiny or free will? Determinists, those that believe destiny triumphs over free will, do have a lot of Greek literature on their side. Those who believe in the power of free will are also supported, namely by the Hindu religion and its ideals. Compatibilists have both fictional and real-life examples to support their idea of destiny and free will as non-clashing, cooperating powers. The debate is controversial and indecisive, but there is one thing that all parties can agree upon. Such huge concepts like fate and free will are extremely powerful and hold a huge effect on our lives and our society.