2006-06-09 01:51:08 · 13 answers · asked by Bluebeard 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
There are different meanings which you can associate with freedom.Generally when we say free will we mean something which does not follow the law of cause and effect.
It is very difficult to argue against the law of causality, people have tried often and have failed.
Nicholas Gisin did some experiments with electrons and superposition I will not quote the entire experiment but he reached the following conclusion
1.Space and time is real
2.Einstein's theory of relativity is valid
3.Free will exists
He said only 2 out of the three can be true.His seem to be the best arguments put forward backed by experiments but flaws have been found there as well.
As humans we tend to fuel our vanity by considering us as free beings,but freedom in "free will" should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Maybe some questions are best left unanswered
2006-06-09 02:10:54 · answer #1 · answered by Mayukh Datta Roy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The question isn't "Does free will exist?"
The question is "What is existing?"
On a certain level there is clearly free will, even if everything in universe is false something makes us think it is real. So does the universe exist or is it some illusion. But even if it is an illusion the illusion gives us choices, do the choices matter, maybe, maybe not. But we have the freedom to choose even if the freedom only exists in our mind.
2006-06-09 09:55:02 · answer #2 · answered by The Teacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well dear!
I didn't read any of the answers you've got, but I've noticed that some people have written A LOT of things up there!!!
Basically... No one can answer that question of yours or try to invent answers for it.
Cause no body actually knows!
It's quite confusing!!!
I'm taking a Philosophy Course at the mean time at College and your question have crossed my mind in one of the lectures and when I asked the Professor about it. He told me (It's a very controversial issue, not even the great scientists or philosophers got an answer for that question).
Why?
Because: Everything has be set up for us. God has written everything for us and everything is fated for all humans.
But on the other hand, you get to choose your College and The Way you Dress, and When do you want to do this and that.
So how come you choose to do all of the things you want and on the contrary everything has been set for us???
That's what I call: The Unknown!
Or: One of God's greatest mysterious powers!
No one will ever know! :)
2006-06-09 18:23:37 · answer #3 · answered by Pinky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show me where "freedom" is IF we ALWAYS chose the BEST option at any given time. It makes no sense to attribute the capacity of volition with something so superfluous and unnecessary.
Trees freely grow apples.
The wind freely blows north.
Facing torture or suicide the man freely chooses death.
Go ahead show me where in volition freedom is.
The job of philosophy is not to PROVE commonsense.
The reason you feel free-will is because you've been
Disciplined to believe it.
Pointing at something that doesn't exist doesn't make it real,
no matter how much culture and tradition say so.
2006-06-09 17:38:06 · answer #4 · answered by -.- 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Everyone of us has free will. It is an attribute of the living being. Free will can not be extinguished. It manifests in different degree in the different species of life according to the development of consciousness. Free will is the only thing we actually possess . We are not robots and we can change our fate. We are the architects of our own destiny. We can use it properly or misuse it - it depends on the choice we are making at every moment - to serve Krishna (God) or to serve Maya (illusion).
2006-06-09 10:05:31 · answer #5 · answered by aumklim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the moment this world makes an impression on your baby brain till the moment we die there is no such thing as free will. There is only what we learn.
2006-06-09 09:04:16 · answer #6 · answered by guashe 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. As children we were all too greatly influenced by our parents to ever have ALL our completely own thoughts. I personally broke out of some of my parents pre-set molds, but I still catch myself repeated something they said, or agreeing with alot of their ideas and preaching that fact to others. Human nature is to interact well with our surroundings in order to survive. We inadvertently change ourselves due to situations and if you think about it, most things we do aren't to please ourselves, but other people who will make us feel good, and we will be pleased.
2006-06-09 18:15:32 · answer #7 · answered by Eileen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That the same question I think about every day as a human.
2006-06-09 08:54:07 · answer #8 · answered by will_jones_90 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that depends on what one's definition of free will is and the extent to which it applies.
2006-06-09 08:53:26 · answer #9 · answered by Black Fedora 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If told, you can or can't do something, a person will willfully react to either choice.
2006-06-09 09:08:35 · answer #10 · answered by laughsall 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋