Q&A: Free Choice
Free Choice
Question
You wrote that with regard to values there is choice, but if he chose not to uphold his values, then is the action itself deterministic? Meaning, if I believe that it is forbidden to drive on the Sabbath and I drove, then the driving itself is not value-based, so does it automatically become deterministic? If so, does that mean I have no responsibility for the act of driving itself?
And I also wanted to ask: what does “deterministic” mean according to Judaism? Did the Holy One, blessed be He, give nature its power, and then the intention is that it is still from Heaven, or is it not defined as from Heaven but rather as nature?
Thank you very much.
Answer
For some reason, this sounds to me like a continuation of another question. So write it there. And please make sure to phrase things more clearly. One more note: the term is “deterministic.”