Free Will and Moral Responsibility: A Contemporary Metaphysical Debate

Abstract

The concepts of free will and moral responsibility lie at the heart of human self-understanding and ethical practice. The metaphysical debate surrounding free will concerns whether humans can act autonomously in a world governed by deterministic laws or probabilistic processes. This paper explores contemporary discussions in metaphysics, examining compatibilist, libertarian, and hard determinist perspectives. It addresses how modern developments in neuroscience, psychology, and physics challenge classical assumptions about agency, autonomy, and moral accountability. Drawing upon philosophical literature, empirical findings, and thought experiments, this study critically evaluates the coherence of free will and its implications for moral responsibility. The paper argues that while metaphysical determinism challenges intuitive notions of freedom, compatibilist frameworks offer a viable reconciliation between determinism and moral accountability, though ethical reflection must remain sensitive to emerging scientific insights.