Is free will just a mirage?

Today, 15/03/2026

We usually think that we are the owners of the free will behind every action we take. From waking up in the morning to choosing what clothes to wear or making big life decisions, we believe that we have our own control over everything. But modern science says that this idea of free will is actually a complete illusion.

If we compare our life to a giant ship floating on the sea, it will be easier to understand. You might be holding the steering wheel of the ship tightly and thinking that you are the one turning the ship to the right or left. However, this vast sea, the path of the wind, or the ship you are standing on, none of these were created by you. The biggest scientific truth is that the moment you decided to turn the wheel, that decision was also the result of a process that had already happened in your brain.

Various studies by scientists have shown that our brain's motor cortex completes the preparation for an action a few seconds before we do it. This means our brain makes the decision long before we consciously decide anything. We are actually just silent witnesses to the decisions happening in our brains. We do not even know what we are going to think in the next moment until the thought actually comes into our heads

I have been studying and researching the topic of free will for a long time. In an attempt to reach the depths of this complex human psychology, I have gone through countless books and research papers. However, my interest in learning has not been limited to bookish knowledge. I often meet different people and want to know what their thoughts are on the existence of free will. Observing their diverse perspectives and ways of thinking is a matter of great joy for me. Even in my university classes, I often get lost in discussions with teachers on this subject and try to learn something new from their wisdom. Right from there, I am starting to write my opinion on someone's perspective.

Today, 16/03/2026

Now the question may arise: if we have no free will, then is there no value in our hard work or effort? Sam Harris explained this matter very beautifully. Suppose a person worked very hard to lose weight. There is no way to deny this hard work or discipline. But the question is: did he consciously create that strong willpower on the day it suddenly appeared in his mind?

Science says this willpower is actually a biological event. A complex mix of our genes, our environment, and all past experiences determines what desire will arise in our minds and when. We can act according to our wishes, but we cannot decide beforehand what our wishes will be.

Many people think that since we have no control, should we just sit idle? This is called fatalism. But what science says is causality (determinism). This means there is a specific cause behind every event. If you lie in bed all day, your life will not improve. Because that lying down itself will act as a cause and lead your future results toward the worse. Therefore, every single action of ours is important because they influence our tomorrow.

Knowing this truth reduces our ego and increases our empathy. When we realize that our talent or success is actually a contribution of our "lottery winning" genes, then there is nothing to be proud of. Similarly, when someone else behaves badly, instead of hating them, we can understand that they might be a victim of their circumstances.

In the book, this is called a biochemical puppet. When we realize that people behave this way because of their neurons or chemical changes, our anger toward them decreases and a mindset of forgiveness is created..

The hardest question arises when we think about criminals. If we do not have any free will, then why should we call a murderer or a criminal guilty? Sam Harris mentions five levels of violence here. For example, when a four year old child accidentally fires a gun, we do not call them a murderer because their brain is still innocent and unaware. However, when an adult commits an act like murder, our perspective changes.

The interesting part is that if it is found that the adult has a large tumor in their brain that has damaged the part controlling emotions and morality, then our hatred turns into sympathy. At that point, we see them as an unfortunate victim of biology instead of seeing them as a killer. According to Harris, the only difference between a dangerous psychopath and a patient with a brain tumor is that we can see the tumor on a scan report, but the defects in a psychopath's brain are not yet caught by regular scans.

This viewpoint does not destroy our legal system; instead, it makes it more scientific and humane. We will certainly confine a dangerous criminal to keep society safe. But that is not to punish them morally; it is to keep regular people safe. It is just like when a tiger enters a neighborhood and we put it in a cage. We do not hate the tiger by calling it a "sinner." Instead, we keep it separate to save human lives.

If a medicine is discovered in the future to remove criminal tendencies, then treating the criminal would be the most logical solution rather than making them suffer. Our entire goal would then shift from revenge toward reform or rehabilitation. Accepting this truth does not decrease our humanity. In fact, it makes us more empathetic toward each other. We realize how important luck is at every level of life. Just as successful people have no reason for irrational pride, the most hated criminal is also ultimately the victim of an unfortunate equation. This helps us see our world in a completely new and clear light.

One last word: my journey does not end here.

Primary Source:

Book Title: Free Will
Author: Sam Harris
Publisher: Free Press (A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Publication Year: 2012

Section-wise References (Mapping to your text):

The Illusion & Neuroscience (Part 1):

Pages 1–13: Discusses the unconscious origins of will. It covers how brain activity in the motor cortex precedes conscious intent (based on experiments by Benjamin Libet and others).

Determinism vs. Fatalism & Biological Events (Part 2):

Pages 34–35: Clarifies the distinction between fatalism and determinism (causality). It explains that while we don't have free will, our choices and efforts still matter because they are part of the causal chain.
Page 45: Discusses how the realization of having no free will can reduce pride and increase compassion, referring to humans as "biochemical puppets."

Moral Responsibility & Justice System (Part 3):

Pages 48–51: Details the "Five levels of violence" and the specific case of a brain tumor (e.g., the Charles Whitman case or similar neurological examples) that affects moral agency.

Pages 52–54: Explains the logic of the "Tiger in a cage" analogy. It argues that we can restrain dangerous people for social safety without needing to believe they possess a "soul" or free will, moving the focus from retribution to rehabilitation.