All this talk about free will...?

Question

and yet, I have never heard of a convincing example. I would really like to hear if anyone else has. I seriously doubt it, but I have an open mind.

And picking a choice of soda won't make it, Ben. Sorry. Don't you see that the decision to make the pick has to be preceeded by the decison to make the decision?

Answer 1

a person's free will is just something intangible like air. How do we know air exists. The reality of this discussion just goes back to Socrates' absolutisim. It's just that simple. whether or not there is such a thing just can not be discerned with our tools, methods, and brain patterns. I personally don't believe all that much in free will, but I won't say there isn't a thing either because I can't disprove it either because like the rest of the world, I'm still chained up in the cave as the absolutisim suggests.

Answer 2

You really have never heard of a convincing example that you have the ability to choose? The folks talking about the soda cans is an example of choice, free will as you say. However, the argument then becomes did you pick the soda because you chose it of your own accord or because an unseen hand or previous conditioning guided you. Short answers and examples are difficult but this may help. In this case we will use choosing the wrong thing to do. Generally we are conditioned (taught, what have you) to do the right thing and to help us we have that little voice that tugs us to do what we know is right. The little voice, commonly referred to as our conscious, is the sum of the moral/ ethical learning we have retained in our psyche. Now, pretend that you are all alone and no one will ever know about or see what is about to transpire (to insure that your choice is not altered by societal pressure). Given these parameters, you come across something that you desire greatly (money, woman/man, power, etc.) This something, this item, is not yours, taking it would be stealing or worse. Everything you have ever learned tells you not to do this thing. However, after discerning that it is wrong and you should not, you take it regardless. Your "will" to acquire this possession has overrided everything you have ever been taught about morality. You choose this evil for yourself in spite of everything else. Like I said, it is difficult to answer and provide an example succinctly and quickly. However, I think that if you thought about this question long enough you could determine for yourself that at times we do things because of conditioning or quick reactions (hasty and thus poor judgement). Regardless, there are other times when you do things that you yourself choose and as I stated beforehand, think about the things you have done that were socially unacceptable or against your general principles. If you are honest with yourself you will discover that free will often involves our ability to choose "evil" over "good".

Answer 3

If you do have an open mind as you claim, then you would know that everyting you do in life is based on a choice - do i do it or not? If you are afraid of the ramifications of doing what you want, that is not the opposite of free will, but the lack of conviction to do what you want and then face the consequences of your actions. Okay, here's your example of free will: Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, or Fanta? Your choice. Everything is your choice as long as you can live with the results.

Answer 4

Form of thought becomes action when decided to act upon the thought. It’s all relative in the process.

Answer 5

I am willing myself right now to answer this question. That is an act of free will.

Answer 6

i agree there are SO many things that we restrain ourselves from doing because of the consequences real or imagined.

Answer 7

Yeah. (NY METS) All the talk about free will is crap.

Answer 8

THINKING OF YOURSELF AS YOU RELATE TO OTHERS , BOIL IT DOWN TO A SIMPLE RULE...PEOPLE WILL DO WHATEVER THE HELL THE WANT TO DO AND "YOU "CANNOT CHANGE ANYONE...

Answer 9

what difference does it makes, do what you will. logic goes both ways