The characters in this movie brought to
mind each of the main theories on determinism versus free will, and which is
better for the fate of humanity. The
rebellious free will against the institutionalized form of determinism, and the
realization of it bringing in compatibilism, questions the pros and cons of
each form of decision-making.
David, of course, represents the free
will of humanity. His primary goal throughout the movie is to foil the
Bureau's Plan and live his own life, both in career and with Elise. His
belief in the purity of absolute free will is what compels him to fight the
agency and create his own choices in life.
Most of The Adjustment Bureau obviously represents the deterministic point of view. Their main objective is to set in path a sequence of events that will lead to a definite end. The moral dilemma that they represent is whether the reasoning behind their actions makes the actions themselves ethically all right. I realize this begins to delve into our second perennial question of who is to decide what's morally right, but the two topics are certainly connected. They do what they do to "train" humanity how to make good decisions, just like riding a bike, as they compare it. They do it to keep humanity safe from its own harmful choices. But it's arguable that we as humans have the right to build our own destinies, without outside influence on how we think and act. The motivation behind the agency is reasonable, but most would agree it's immoral because it takes away any free will while leaving the illusion of it.
The character Harry, as stated in the reading, represents Compatibilism, both consciously and unintentionally. He works for The Adjustment Bureau, making sure that the major events in humanity go according to The Plan. However, he purposely seeks out David to tell him about the organization and answer some of his questions. Giving him more information seems to go against The Plan, but he still does his job to insure that everything goes as it should. It's a conflict and an impossible dilemma. When be willingly helps David through the doors, he makes a choice of his own free will, defying what he has always done. He also represents Compatibilism unknowingly. By falling asleep at the beginning of the movie, he sets into action the re-kindling of David and Elise's romance. This process follows through Newtonian determinism, which sets into line circumstances that allow the pair to continue meeting. Although Harry tries - and fails - to amend his mistake, the string of events he puts into action allows David to make choices of his own free will.
An interesting component of this question of who writes the script of our lives is the fact that David is aware of The Adjustment Bureau. If we are aware of determinism in our lives, does it make us more likely to fight for our own free will? If we could be conscious of the definite outcomes of our decisions, would we be able to fight against pre-determined events to create our own paths?
Most of The Adjustment Bureau obviously represents the deterministic point of view. Their main objective is to set in path a sequence of events that will lead to a definite end. The moral dilemma that they represent is whether the reasoning behind their actions makes the actions themselves ethically all right. I realize this begins to delve into our second perennial question of who is to decide what's morally right, but the two topics are certainly connected. They do what they do to "train" humanity how to make good decisions, just like riding a bike, as they compare it. They do it to keep humanity safe from its own harmful choices. But it's arguable that we as humans have the right to build our own destinies, without outside influence on how we think and act. The motivation behind the agency is reasonable, but most would agree it's immoral because it takes away any free will while leaving the illusion of it.
The character Harry, as stated in the reading, represents Compatibilism, both consciously and unintentionally. He works for The Adjustment Bureau, making sure that the major events in humanity go according to The Plan. However, he purposely seeks out David to tell him about the organization and answer some of his questions. Giving him more information seems to go against The Plan, but he still does his job to insure that everything goes as it should. It's a conflict and an impossible dilemma. When be willingly helps David through the doors, he makes a choice of his own free will, defying what he has always done. He also represents Compatibilism unknowingly. By falling asleep at the beginning of the movie, he sets into action the re-kindling of David and Elise's romance. This process follows through Newtonian determinism, which sets into line circumstances that allow the pair to continue meeting. Although Harry tries - and fails - to amend his mistake, the string of events he puts into action allows David to make choices of his own free will.
An interesting component of this question of who writes the script of our lives is the fact that David is aware of The Adjustment Bureau. If we are aware of determinism in our lives, does it make us more likely to fight for our own free will? If we could be conscious of the definite outcomes of our decisions, would we be able to fight against pre-determined events to create our own paths?
In the end, it is implied that the unseen
“Chairman” has a goal of training humanity so that it can one day make good
decisions on its own, just as David and Elise did in choosing each other,
despite what the effect might be. It
ends on a note of hope that we as a society can use the cards we’re handed in
life and play them in a way that gives us our own choices.
Do you think that the movie depicts most humans as simply too inept to handle free will?
ReplyDeleteI think it implies that that's the belief of the Adjustment Bureau. But I also think the final scene gives hope that there are humans who are able to handle their own choices, and that as time goes on that number will increase.
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