Critique of Al-Ghazâlî's View on the Relationship between Determinism and The Free Will

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate, Tabriz branch, Department of Islamic theology and philosophy, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz. Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic theology and philosophy, Tabriz branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz. Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic theology and philosophy, Ahar branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran

Abstract

The relationship between the free will and the philosophical rule of "causal determinism" is one of the issues that have been the subject of controversy among Islamic thinkers, theologians, and philosophers. Well-known Islamic scholars do not consider causal determinism in conflict with this rational and necessary law, but some theologians, including Al-Ghazâlî have considered it contrary to the free will. Therefore, the focus of this research is to study and research the works of the prominent thinker of the Islamic world and the great Ash'arite (/æʃəˈriː/; Arabic: أشعریة‎ al-ʾAšʿarīyah or ٱلْأَشَاعِرَة al-ʾAšāʿirah) theologian (Al-Ghazâlî) to study and evaluate his theological thought about the relation of the free will and causal determinism. In this article, after explaining the concepts of the free will, causal determinism and will, the basic motives for denying causality in Ghazali's intellectual system have been examined. In general, it turns out that Ash'arite thought has overshadowed all of Al-Ghazâlî's theories and has led to his various orientations in all matters, including the free will. According to Al-Ghazâlî, believing in the rule of causal necessity requires the limitation of divine power and the deprivation of human free will and the free agent and the compulsion of God in his actions. Therefore, in answer to the main question of the research, that is, from the point of view of Al-Ghazâlî, is it possible to combine the belief in the causal determinism and the free will the free agent or not? It can be said that in Al-Ghazâlî's thought, human free will cannot be combined with causal necessity or determinsm.

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Journal of Philosophical Investigations
Volume 15, Issue 35 - Serial Number 35
Articles
2021
Pages 65-80

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