Against Determinism: A Rational Case for Human Agency

This paper argues that the rising consensus against free will—advocated by figures such as Sam Harris, Robert Sapolsky, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Brian Greene—is not only philosophically unsound but dangerous. By reconstructing the determinist worldview in its strongest form and dismantling its foundations through logical analysis, empirical critique, and ethical reasoning, this paper defends the reality of human agency. It concludes that the denial of free will leads to the erosion of moral responsibility, the collapse of justice, and a mechanized vision of humanity that undermines the very conditions for meaning and accountability.