Most people in our society would argue that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann on May 3rd, 2007 was purely down to bad luck, or more specifically; bad timing. Perhaps she would not have been abducted if her parents had came back five minutes earlier to check on her. However, there are some who believe that fatalism, determinism or predestination explains her disappearance. These three separate views state:
Fatalism: The fact that the parents were out at the time when Madeleine was abducted has nothing to do with timing or their decision to leave her. Human beings have no power to change the course of events, and unfortunately this was always going to happen.
Fatalism: The fact that the parents were out at the time when Madeleine was abducted has nothing to do with timing or their decision to leave her. Human beings have no power to change the course of events, and unfortunately this was always going to happen.
- This view introduces the argument of 'Nihilism', whereby the fact that humans have no choice or free will mean that nothing matters.
Determinism: Madeleine's abduction was CAUSED by some sort of unknown previous event. This is otherwise known as a casual nexis. The parents did have a choice whether to leaver their child or not, but this does not change the fact that their daughter would always have been abducted on that night.
Predestination: God, the ultimate being, knows all our actions, past, present and future. God had planned the abduction to happen and witnessed it all.
- Someone who believed in an immanent God may argue that his intervention into the McCann's life is a revelation of his omnipotence and omniscience.
A clear overview, Izzy - well done.
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