Adam Grace

11/30/2014
Critical Analysis: Does The Future Already Exist?

The Uncertainty of Free Will

In this chapter of R. Morris book, Morris speaks on the topic of determinism and
whether or not we can control the future. Morris explores the subjects of philosophy and
quantum mechanics in great detail to emphasize his point. In this chapter Morris doesnt
seem to present a clear argument for either side (determinism vs. nondeterminism).
Instead, he gives us a certain amount of evidence that we may not have as much free will
as we thought. Morris wants the reader to gather the evidence that he presents and
possibly have them make an argument themselves. In the chapter Morris simply provides
empirical evidence that suggests that we should question our free will, and ability to
control the future. Using empirical evidence from the worlds of quantum physics and
philosophy, Morris provides ample evidence for one to question free will.
The vast majority of humans base their lives off the belief that they have free will.
They make decisions and translate that into believing that their decisions were
determined by them and them alone. However, Morris indicates that this is also true for
most people who believe in determinism. Morris states that determinism is a belief that
doesnt come without contradictions, because humans are innately flawed creatures. If
one were to truly believe in determinism, they would base their actions on the belief that
no decisions they make can change the future. Morris gives several examples of
determinism; astrology, fatalism, and atomism. Astrologists believe that personalities are

not based on genetics or the way one is raised, theyre simply based on when someone
was born. Fatalism is a more extreme form of determinism. Its the belief that all humans
have a fate of some sort, and that it is completely unavoidable. Atomism is one of the first
deterministic philosophies. Atomists believed that everything in the world was composed
of small spherical shapes that were constantly in motion and collided like billiard balls.
Atomists believed that the world operated like a giant machine, that was set in motion
and cannot be altered. They believed that since all things were composed of atoms, so are
our minds. And since our minds are composed of the same thing the world is composed
of, our minds operate in a machinistic way as well. All of these ideas are derive from the
same principle belief, that the future holds a set destination, and were simply along for
the ride.
Morris then delves into showing how these philosophical beliefs are questionable
when compared to the indeterminacy of quantum mechanics. Morris explains that
quantum mechanics, in a way, disproves that we can measure the universe exactly. At the
subatomic level, things are incredibly chaotic. This, in a way, disproves the philosophical
and newtonian beliefs that people have held in the past. It shows that not all things in the
universe are determined in advance. And yet Morris explains that these quantum events
are much too small to significantly alter any larger molecules. Neurons, and even the
proteins that make up neurons, are too large to be affected by subatomic particles in any
real way. Therefore we can conclude that, with the information we have today, chaotic
quantum events have no true effect on the brain. This conclusion, however, simply brings
us back to the start.

Morris then comments on the fact that we have arrived back at square one. That
science, for now, cannot prove or disprove the existence of free will. Currently free will
seems to be simply a question for philosophers to ponder. Yet Morris achieved his goal.
Morris was just trying to bring up determinism as a subject to think about. He was trying
to bring to light the fact that our decisions may not be as impactful as we think they are.
And in the end, he was successful.

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