Religion and Ethics – Determinism and free will

Determinism and free will is a core topic in the WJEC A-Level Religious Studies specification, exploring whether human actions are predetermined or freely chosen. This debate sits at the heart of moral responsibility: if our choices are determined by prior causes (biological, environmental, or divine), can we be held morally accountable? The topic connects with philosophical, theological, and scientific perspectives, including hard determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism. Students must evaluate key thinkers such as John Calvin (theological determinism), Jean-Paul Sartre (radical free will), and A.J. Ayer (soft determinism), while also engaging with challenges from quantum physics and neuroscience.

Understanding this debate is crucial because it shapes how we view ethics, law, and religion. For example, if determinism is true, retributive justice (punishment for wrongdoing) becomes problematic, whereas libertarian free will supports the idea of moral desert. The topic also intersects with the problem of evil: if God predestines some to salvation and others to damnation (as Calvin argued), does that make God unjust? Students must critically assess these implications, using scholarly interpretations and real-world examples such as addiction, coercion, or criminal behaviour.

Within the WJEC course, this topic is studied under 'Religion and Ethics' and often appears in essay questions requiring evaluation of different positions. Mastery of determinism and free will also supports other themes like conscience, moral absolutism, and religious experience. A strong answer will demonstrate knowledge of key terminology (e.g., causal determinism, indeterminism, moral responsibility), apply philosophical arguments (e.g., the consequence argument, the luck objection), and engage with religious perspectives (e.g., Arminianism vs. Calvinism).