1. Albert Einstein (1879–1955)
Einstein, the famous physicist, believed in a deterministic universe governed by the laws of physics. He rejected the concept of free will, famously stating, "God does not play dice with the universe," implying that everything, including human behavior, follows strict physical laws and is not subject to randomness or free choice.
2. Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)
Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, suggested that human behavior is largely determined by unconscious drives, instincts, and past experiences. Although he did not outright reject the notion of free will, he believed that much of our behavior is shaped by unconscious forces beyond our control.
3. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
Nietzsche questioned the concept of free will, particularly within the context of traditional moral systems. He argued that much of human behavior is driven by unconscious forces and external circumstances, and he criticized the idea of free will as an illusion created by society and religion.
4. Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
Although often associated with a belief in personal responsibility, Abraham Lincoln also expressed deterministic views in his speeches and writings. Lincoln believed that human actions were shaped by larger forces, such as destiny, and that people’s decisions were influenced by circumstances beyond their immediate control. For example, he referred to the nation's moral struggles as part of a larger, inevitable process.
5. Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)
The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that all human actions are the result of natural laws, and that individuals are driven by desire and fear, which themselves are determined by physical and environmental factors. He believed that free will is an illusion because every action is the outcome of prior causes.
6. B.F. Skinner (1904–1990)
B.F. Skinner, a leading behaviorist psychologist, argued that human behavior is determined by environmental factors and conditioning rather than free will. He believed that people's actions are shaped by reinforcement and punishment, and that individuals are not truly "free" in the sense of making independent choices.
7. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980)
Although Sartre is typically associated with existentialism and the emphasis on human freedom, he acknowledged that human freedom is constrained by external factors such as biology, society, and culture. In some of his later works, he explored the tension between personal freedom and the influence of determinism.
8. Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677)
The Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza rejected the concept of free will, instead arguing that everything, including human thoughts and actions, is determined by the laws of nature. He believed that free will was an illusion, and that human behavior is the product of divine necessity and the natural order.
9. Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)
German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer also dismissed free will, asserting that human actions are determined by unconscious desires and external forces. He believed that our sense of free will is an illusion, and that we are driven by forces beyond our control.
10. Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749–1827)
Laplace, a French mathematician and physicist, is known for his deterministic view of the universe. He famously proposed that if one knew the exact position and momentum of every particle in the universe, they could predict all future events. This deterministic perspective suggests that free will is an illusion, as everything is determined by prior causes.
These individuals, from various fields including philosophy, psychology, science, and politics, have all questioned or rejected the idea of free will in favor of deterministic or causally driven views of human behavior.
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