Essay Example on Determinism: Everything is Pre-Determined, But Reality?

Determinism is considered a far-reaching term that significantly influences several areas of concern and indicates that several events that are experienced in the world are anchored on some previous experiences. As such, reality, to a large extent, is anchored on a predetermined event; thus, no new thing can often come into existence. This argument postulates that all events emanate from some prior events. As such, if the determinism view is to be taken seriously, it is possible to believe that all the future occurrences remain unaltered.

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On the other hand, the free will view focuses on the notion that any conscious human being can consciously make conscious and genuine undetermined choices in situations where they are unconstrainedly compelled to do so. This paper reinforces a preferred position on free will ( i.e., hard determinism) based on George Saunders’ ‘Escape from Spearhead,' a dystopian short story presenting a controlled pharmaceutical environment in which the scientists engage in experimental manipulation of the emotions and the desires of human emotions.

It is essential to note that the free will, unlike the determinism, comes in several types and strengths. As portrayed by George Sunders, the scientific free will is anchored on certainty and predictability of outcomes. In my view, the stories portrayed by George Saunders do not fail to create some unique situations of life and related characters. ‘Escape from spearhead’ is a short story fighting for the establishment of space between speculative fiction and science.

It is essential to note that the initial phase of the story indicates the transformation power of drugs on Jeff's life. I discovered from the story that Jeff decided to engage in sex with some two women named Rachel and Heather in a ritualistic manner. It is essential to note that he loves all of them even though everything returns to normal when he is under drugs.

During the Abnesti’s project at Spiderhead, Jeff did not wish that his two women undergo the emotionally disturbing encounter under Darkenfloxx. Amnesty is more elated to discover that all the participants react similarly, thereby proving his hypothesis that love can always be initiated and entirely erased with limited or no residual feeling of attachment from the minds of the humans through the use of drugs (Saunder 13). However, even though Jeff lacked the free will to engage in the project, he is compelled to witness one among his two partners undergo administration of Darkenfloxx.

Thus, he has no other choice but to immediately observe her undergoing immense emotional distress upon the administration of the drug. The experience by Jeff through unwilling participation in Abnesti's project at Spiderhead reiterates the principle of hard determinism, which notes that the actions by various people are often causally necessitated, thereby rendering them unfree. As a section of the experiment, Abnesti is interested in bringing Jeff and his lovers (Saunder 50). However, neither Jeff nor his lovers are interested in this. However, Jeff is unable to believe that that within one day, he had experienced a sexual experience three times with two separate women, fallen in love with them immediately, and suddenly out of love.

Jeff can wax some poetic about loving Heather as he describes it as the most profound longing fulfilled. In this light, Free will do not necessarily imply the capability of willing where all motives are absent. Any rational human being, for instance, has an attraction to whatever is apprehended as being good. The story argues that human beings are majorly empathetic and are against the infliction of discomfort and pain on other innocent people.

The story presents a collision between two distinct parties; the bad and the good. However, such a fact does not appear until the revelation of the nature of the tests and the forcing of the means for verification of the test results upon the various subjects (Saunder 45). Through the creation of a clash between bad and good, Saunders can show the real winner. In this instance, it is revealed that the 'good' prevails over the 'bad.'

However, it is essential to understand what or who the ‘good’ really is. It is essential to note that the character of Jeff draws some level of sympathy. Although Jeff does not love Heather, he is forced to engage in an experiment to discover whether a drug can generate some love feelings. Abnesti says, "Say someone can’t love? Now he or she can” It is essential to note that this statement by Abnesti is supported by the experiment conducted at Spiderhead.

For instance, Jeff had engaged in a sexual experience with two ladies, although he had not encountered any feeling of love and attachment. The distinction between genuine love and Jeff's skills is that genuine love naturally exists between individuals, while Jeff's love experience is realized through the influence of certain drugs.

Abnesti tells Jeff to decide whether Rachel or Heather should obtain the Darkenfloxx to determine his natural inclination of affection to the two ladies. Jeff, although cognizant of the eminent emotional and psychological impact of the experiment on the ladies, he is forced to watch the ladies undergo emotional turmoil. There is nothing he can do about it.

It is essential to note that he loves all of them, although everything returns to normal when he is under drugs. Through the creation of a clash between bad and good, Saunders has the capability of showing the real winner. In this instance, it is revealed that the 'good' prevails over the 'bad.'

As a section of the experiment, Abnesti is interested in bringing Jeff and his lovers. However, neither Jeff nor his lovers are interested in this. However, Jeff is unable to believe that that within one day, he had experienced a sexual experience three times with two separate women, fallen in love with them immediately, and suddenly out of love.

Conclusion

Determinism is considered a far-reaching term that significantly influences several areas of concern and indicates that several events that are experienced in the world are anchored on some previous experiences. This paper reinforced a preferred position on free will (i.e., hard determinism) based on George Saunders' 'Escape from Spearhead' which is a dystopian short story presenting a controlled pharmaceutical environment in which the scientists engage in experimental manipulation of the emotions and the desires of human emotions.

It is essential to note that he loves all of them despite the fact that everything returns to normal when he is under drugs. Through the creation of a clash between bad and good, Saunders has the capability of showing the real winner. In this instance, it is revealed that the 'good' prevails over the 'bad.' Jeff, although cognizant of the eminent emotional and psychological impact of the experiment on the ladies, he is forced to watch the ladies undergo emotional turmoil. There is nothing he can do about it.

Works Cited

Saunders, George. "Escape from Spiderhead." New Yorker (2010): 111. Retrieved from http://classes.dma.ucla.edu/Spring11/157A/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/X-Escape-From-SpiderHead-George-Saunders.pdf