Free will in Gazalî

Free will, freedom of shaping our life by our own will, is one of the most profound problems of philosophy. It is philosophically fundamental question about free will that to which extent man, as a part of the nature, might and should be free in his actions. When free will is considered from theological standpoint, we are faced with a problem that whether human actions, while nature is the creature of God, is free from it, i.e. whether human actions are created by God and thus they are subject to natural determinism. It is essential problem about will in theological respect that whether human will is exempted or independent from natural necessity or determinism. Gazali takes up this philosophical and theological problem together. Gazali, on the one hand, consents not to give up the idea of making man responsible for his actions, on the other, rejects any other agent but God in universe without delimiting his power, absoluteness of his might. He tries to bridge between them. When human will is accepted not as an exempt, this means that man?s freedom of will become an illusion. Moreover, if acknowledged so, God remains to be an arbitrary being and also human being is seen as an impotent creature. Gazali?s aim, in this context, is to associate human actions with man and render men responsible agents of their actions. If human will is not functional, then it is nonsense to regard man as liable. As a matter of fact that we are of dependent nature in physical realm, yet it is rather crucial and essential that someone has a freedom transcending the physical realm in order to improve his personality. We have an impression from human making and doings that men are free, though not limitless, in his actions to a certain extent, human will is free, and they are of freedom to do whatever they want. In this study, we have discussed the concept of will, the domain of freedom of human will and the free will in Gazali and in additon, analized and referred to the texts and works which can contribute to our study. The main object of the study is to show Gazali?s conception of free will. In the final analyses, according to Gazalî, metaphysically it seems impossible to saying about free will, when taken account God?s knowledge, His will, His mighty and His creation. However, he accept human?s free will on the ethical and judicial realm, because he finds it necessary to takes human being are responsible for their actions.