Fatalism

4 Pages 896 Words

Fatalism is the idea that everything that happens and our very actions not only will take place, but are unavoidable. Therefore, free will is only an illusion and the “choices” we think we are making were actually predetermined by past events. In this paper, I will set out to explain some major arguments for fatalism and offer grounds to refute it. Let’s begin by exploring the concept of fate.
“Fate” is commonly defined as a predetermined state or end: something that you have no control over and will occur whether you want it to or not. Most of the time, we apply this idea to events we have absolutely no control over, like running someone over in a car. In following with our example, there are basically two choices I can make; either get into my car, or not get into my car. I can do A, or refrain from doing A. Yet, if the statement, “I will get into my car today” is true, then how can I act otherwise? I would be making a true statement false. It is absurd that anyone could render false something that is true. It would be a simple contradiction. Therefore, if it is a true statement that I will get into my car, my choice has in fact been limited. I must get into my car, or else I would be making a true statement false.
It is important to acknowledge the law of excluded middle when discussing true and false statements. The law is a follows: every meaningful statement, whether about oneself or anything else, is either true or false; that is, its denial is true. Since every meaningful statement must be true or false, there can be no middle ground. For instance, God either exists or does not exist; there is no other option. For instance if we say God might exist, then we are merely saying that we do not know whether or not God does exist, but we do know (according to the law of excluded middle) that either God exists or else God does not exist. Once again, statements that are meaningful must be either true or false.
We must, ...