Question

Determinism vs Free Will:
What is one important part of human life that would be negatively affected by believing that we do, in fact, live in a determined world, as science purports?

Answer 1

Perhaps the biggest impact of believing that we live in a determined world would be the belief and understanding that we do not have any control over the outcomes of events in our lives. Such a thought is likely to predispose us to believe that we are not responsible for any of our actions as these are controlled by external influences. Furthermore, it may lead us to completely surrender to events outside us without resistance. Although science purports that we live in a determined world, completely buying into this pattern of thought may not necessarily be adaptive or functional.