Aristotle's Theory: The Hierarchical Model Of Free Will

Free will represents an individual making choices or taking action without any constraints. While it can be argued that different aspects of determinism restrict or negate the possibility of free will, one should not assume that the presence of metaphysical, physical or scientific constraints nullify the possibility of free will. Furthermore, it should be noted that fear of reprisal may not be construed as inhibition to free will, because essentially, free will constitutes the ability of an individual to make a decision to do or not do something (Sartre, 1948).

In a theological context, Aristotle (in Thomsson, 1953) posits that free will, specifically individual free will, can operate with the perceived presence of a theological deity,

In this model, an individual may have various wants based on perceived need that can ultimately impact an individual’s behavior. In terms of volition, or when an individual acts upon a particular want, or may have several different wants that cause conflict, leading to the individual to encounter inaction. ( This alone would not constitute free will. However, according to Fisher, (1994; 1998) If a person was coerced into action, or behaviorally conditioned to act a certain way which could be against various levels of ordered wants, this model of free will would come into question in terms of actual free will. In other words, an individual may want to jog, and also need to go to the corner market. While getting dressed to run, the individual notes that it has started raining. The individual would experience a crisis of all wants at this point, and decide not to go out jogging or to jog to the corner market. Decision not to engage in a particular act of volition is also an example of free will (Tiempe, in IEP, 2015).

Determinism and Free Will

Causal Determinism, also called nomological determinism, (Tiempe in IEP, 2015) is a theory which posits that the course of the future is entirely determined by the conjunction of the past and the laws of nature (Tiempe in IEP, 2015). Such predetermination, coupled with the influences of past events of an individual lifespan do not imply free will, but morealess that an individual is led, by some degree, by the influence and experience of the past, or what is previously known.

Compatibilism, Incompatibilism, and