To discuss if karma is deterministic, we first have to define both karma and
determinism. The Sanskrit word Karma or the Pāli word kamma means to do action.
Buddhism believes that all our conscious and intentional behaviours have their
consequences, which is called karma.
As for determinism, it is the philosophical proposition that every event, decision and
action is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. However,
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this does not mean that humans have no choice about the future or present. It means
that the level of human influences to those events and future has to depend on present
and past. Determinism is a system of cause and effect.
There are two different beliefs of determinism, one is the Incompatibilism and the
Compatibilism. The former is the belief that Free Will and Determinism are mutually
exclusive and cannot exist at the same time without any conflict. This could include
the Hard Determinism, thinking that determinism is the reality and Free Will is an
illusion. Also include Libertarianism, which Free Will is true, Determinism is not.
And lastly that neither Determinism nor Free Will is true, as known as Pessimistic
Incompatibilitsm. The latter is the belief that Free Will and Determinism are
compatible ideas and can occur at the same time without causing any conflict. Which
leads to the notion of Soft Determinism, which is the theory that human behaviour
and actions are wholly determined by causal events, but human free will does exist
when defined as the capacity to act according to one’s nature (which is shaped by
external factors such as heredity, society and upbringing).
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According to the Jain theory of karma, “There are priests & contemplatives who hold
this teaching, hold this view: Whatever a person experiences — pleasant, painful, or
neither pleasant nor painful — that is all caused by what was done in the past.” So, I
reckon that karma is soft deterministic. The action and karma is based on previous
teaching and experience of that person. Buddhist’s concept of Karma is more likely to
be Soft Determinism, which means that Determinism and Free Will can coexist rather
than totally refute the idea of Free Will like Hard Determinism.
Hard Determinism is the notion that a certain cause will definitely lead to a certain
consequence, which means that a certain karma (action) will result in a certain
consequence. For example, if you were to be angry and shouted at your sister, she will
definitely be mad and will not talk to you for the rest of the day. This is the cause and
effect of the karma of what you have done and this is Hard Determinism. By this
definition, one cause will only lead to one effect and the cycle goes on and on.
However, all of us know that is not the case. So, here comes the idea of Soft
Determinism.
Determinism – By Branch / Doctrine – The Basics of Philosophy.” The Basic of Philosophy.
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Accessed December 9, 2015. http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_determinism.html.
Riley, Jim. “Free Will and Determinism | Religious Studies.” Free Will and Determinism.
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March 1, 2015. Accessed December 9, 2015. http://www.tutor2u.net/religious-studies/blog/
free-will-and-determinism.
Soft Determinism is the idea that a certain cause will not definitely lead to a certain
consequence. Just like the above example, when you are angry and shouted at your
sister, she can be furious and neglect you for the rest of the day. Instead, she decides
to forgive you and continue to talk to you. This is an example that a certain Karma of
one person does not lead to the same result every time. It is because that Free Will
does exist. Your sister owns the Free Will to decide if she should forgive you or not.
This is why human lives are not fated and destined. There are a lot of other factors
will remain uncertain.
To make a short conclusion, Buddhist’s concept of karma is not solely base on
determinism, we as human can bring our effort to change the consequence we have.
Although the level of effect remain unknown, but it is to be ensured that the effect has
to be growing positively. Karma, philosophically speaking, it is like sowing of seeds.
If you sow good deeds into the soil, one will harvest good karma. But then the amount
of good karma harvested remain uncertain.
Nonetheless, many would be confused between Soft Determinism and Free Will.
What is the difference between human action is Soft Deterministic and Free Willed?
Let us state the Buddhist’s meaning of Karma again. According to Basic Questions on
Karma and Rebirth, In Buddhism, karma refers to impulses. Based on previous
actions we have done, impulses arise in us to act in certain ways now. Previous
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actions may means the habits we have developed since we were a child, influence by
