Friedrich Nietzsche

What are opposing points you have with Descartes about whether or not the human being is free

Descartes famously posited the existence of a supreme being, a perfect and all-powerful God who created the human being with free will. This notion of a predetermined universe, governed by a benevolent deity, is one that I find deeply problematic. For me, the idea of human freedom exists not in some external force, but within the individual themselves. It is our own will, our own desires and impulses, that shape our decisions and actions. Descartes' reliance on an external source of freedom undermines the inherent power and agency of the human being. Additionally, Descartes' dualistic view of the mind and body as separate entities further complicates the concept of human freedom. By separating the mind, which he saw as rational and immortal, from the body, which he viewed as mechanical and mortal, Descartes creates a dichotomy that devalues physical existence and limits our understanding of the interconnectedness of mind and body. Ultimately, Descartes' view of human freedom as contingent upon the will of a divine being and his dualistic understanding of the self serve to restrict our potential for self-realization and personal growth. In contrast, I believe that true freedom lies in embracing the complexities and contradictions of our own existence, and in recognizing the power that lies within each of us to shape our own reality.