What Is Predestination? Predestination, in theology, is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul. Explanations of predestination often seek to address the “paradox of free will“, whereby God‘s omniscience seems incompatible with human free will. In this usage, predestination can be...
What Is Determinism? Determinism is the philosophical view that all events are determined completely by previously existing causes. Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have sprung from diverse and sometimes overlapping motives and considerations. The opposite of determinism is some kind of indeterminism (otherwise called nondeterminism) or randomness. Determinism is often contrasted with free will, although...
Libertarianism In Metaphysics Libertarianism is one of the main philosophical positions related to the problems of free will and determinism, which are part of the larger domain of metaphysics. In particular, libertarianism, which is an incompatibilist position, argues that free will is logically incompatible with a deterministic universe and that agents have free will, and that, therefore, determinism...
What Is Hard Determinism? Hard determinism (or metaphysical determinism) is a view on free will which holds that determinism is true, and that it is incompatible with free will, and, therefore, that free will does not exist. Although hard determinism generally refers to nomological determinism, it can also be a position taken with...
Incompatibilism Incompatibilism is the view that a deterministic universe is completely at odds with the notion that persons have free will; that there is a dichotomy between determinism and free will where philosophers must choose one or the other. This view is pursued in at least three ways: libertarians deny that the universe is...
Free Will In Antiquity Free will in antiquity is a philosophical and theological concept. Free will in antiquity was not discussed in the same terms as used in the modern free will debates, but historians of the problem have speculated who exactly was first to take positions as determinist, libertarian, and compatibilist in antiquity. There is wide...
Reason For Creation This article covers the answer to the question: “What is the reason for creation?” Since God Knows What We Will Do, Why Does He Send Us Here? We are sent here to improve our abilities and skills through the responsibilities He ordains for us. Not all people...
God’s Creation Of People Rich And Poor This article covers the answer to the question: “What is The Wisdom Behind God’s Creation of People Rich and Poor?” God has bestowed upon some people material wealth and comfort, status and prestige, and upon others poverty, misery, and affliction. Does this mean that...
Neuroscience of Free Will Neuroscience of free will, a part of neurophilosophy, is the study of topics related to free will (volition and sense of agency) using neuroscience, and the analysis of how findings from such studies may impact the free will debate. As it has become possible to study the living human brain, researchers have...
Test And Trial For Man The world is an arena of test and trial for man. He has been sent here to acquire the state appropriate for the other life. This is not easy. Like a tailor who, in order to make a suit fit for his customer, cuts a...
Destiny, Faith And The Meaning Of Divine Decree “What Is The Meaning Of Divine Decree And Destiny and Why Is Belief In Destiny Included In The Essentials Of Faith?” Introduction The original Arabic word translated as ‘destiny‘ is ‘Qadar‘, meaning, in its derivations, determination, giving a certain measure and shape,...
Divine Decree And Destiny, And Human Free Will This article covers the relationship between Divine Decree and Destiny, and Human Free Will. The Arabic word translated as destiny is qadar. In its derivations, this word also means determination, giving a certain measure and shape, dividing, and judging. Muslim scholars of...
The Manifest Record And The Manifest Book This article covers The Manifest Record and the Manifest Book. For example, a seed exhibits Destiny in two ways: demonstrating the Manifest Record (Imamun Mubin) and displaying the Manifest Book (Kitabun Mubin). The Manifest Record, another title for Divine Knowledge and Command, includes...
Destiny And Human Free Will This article covers the answer to the question: “What Is The relationship Between Destiny And Human Free Will?“ Human free will exists because: We feel remorse when we do something wrong. We beg God’s forgiveness for our sins. If we trouble or harm someone, we...
The Divine Wisdom In Creating People Differently This article covers the answer to the question: “What Is The Divine Wisdom In Creating People Differently?“ Why did God create us with different levels of provision and intelligence, lifestyle, and physiology? Why does He allow hardship and poverty amidst ease and luxury? Such...
Questions On Destiny And Human Free Will This article covers some interesting questions and answers on Destiny And Human Free Will. Question: Are we victims of Destiny? Do we have any part in the calamities befalling us? Answer: As this question has been discussed earlier, I will present a summarized...
Divine Decree And Destiny This article covers the answer to the question: “What is Divine Decree and Destiny?“ Divine Knowledge God is completely beyond our abilities of comparison and conception, and so we can acquire only some knowledge of His Attributes and Names, not of His Divine Essence, by meditating...
What Is Free Will? Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. Free will is closely linked to the concepts of responsibility, praise, guilt, sin, and other judgements which apply only to actions that are freely chosen. It is also connected with the concepts of advice, persuasion, deliberation,...
Will (Philosophy) Will, generally, is that faculty of the mind which selects, at the moment of decision, the strongest desire from among the various desires present. Will does not refer to any particular desire, but rather to the mechanism for choosing from among one’s desires. Within philosophy the will is important...
Omniscience Omniscience is the capacity to know everything including the future. In monotheistic religions, such as Sikhism and the Abrahamic religions, this is an attribute of God. In some other religions that do not include a supreme deity, such as Buddhism and Jainism, omniscience is an attribute that any individual can eventually attain. Islam In...