Does free will really exist? what is your opinion?

Question

The decitions we make in life are influenced by the people we meet, the lives we live, the things we learn to like, our emotion, the events that happen. So do we really have free will or are we just the result of everything that happened in our lives?

Answer 1

I think we have the ability to make choices, and live in land that allows us choices with limits. But in reality our choices are probably formed by the time we are 7 (or younger) and the choices outside ourselves is limited by the culture we live in.

So yes. And no.

Answer 2

At least we have a good enough illusion that the free will exists. That's true that everything around us influences our decisions, but we still make those decisions (or have an illusion that we are making them). We cannot really understand what kind of causal events make us think like we think, and make those decisions we make. I think it's good to assume that we can make the decisions here and now, not that they were decided for us long time ago.

In many aspects I could agree to Rod M's answer, but I think there lies a dangerous attitude towards life: fatalism. In most people it seems to encourage passivisation, in some cases even avoiding responsibility of ones own actions, and self denial. There is a deeper meaning in the fact that we cannot track the causality of our own thoughts, the blueprint of our free will is incomprehensible to us for a reason. After all, those moments when I have decided against the pressures generated by surrounding world, those moments when I have done something because of an inner decision, are those moments when I've felt truly alive. And no, those moments definitely don't make me fear death.

Answer 3

This is a very interesting question and one that I have been thinking about for a very long time. I think free will is an illusion, or Samsara, as Buddhists call it. Free will presupposes we have control over things.There are simply too many events in our lives that we have no control over. Free will presupposes we need to control our future, but the words "control" and "future" are wrong. There is, literally, only the now, the present. We need to learn to be present to the moment and its endless unfolding possibilities. The future does not exist - if it did, we would be experiencing it now. So we need to savour the Now and be mindful of it. Control is an illusion; we need to learn to let go and, as the mystics says, allow the universe to flow through us and govern us with her immutable laws. Much of our current thinking and being-in-the world is based on the Cartesian "I think, therefore I am." But this is not so, being precedes thinking, essence precedes human sentience. The human ego is an illusion, and desperately wants to be in control. This is why we fear death; death is something we have absolutely no control over, and supposed free will evaporates in death's presence. My students were surprised to hear, in a discussion similar to this, that I do not fear death. Why fear something that is going to happen to "me" (the ego) and which I have no control over? Boy, I got a bit esoteric here. I would like a reply to my thoughts, enter into a dialogue with others on this. Thanks for the question.

Answer 4

I think it is really half and half. I mean the things around u happen to influence you to do something but you still have the ultimate choice in whether or not u want to do it. Lets just say its kind of like a commercial sometimes you think wow i would really like to have something like that. You are influenced by the product, but do u always buy it??? You still have the free will part that says no i don't want to...If we didn't have free will my credit card bill would be alot higher...

Answer 5

The decisions we make are influenced by the experiences we have prior. However, free will is not exactly a common type of thought for all people. Free will is your own cognitive reasoning to make decisions. It's the combination of your experiences that makes you unique. Not the fact that your experiences are helped along by others.

Answer 6

it just sounds more like destiny...this is hard to discuss b/c is it our own free will to decide to meet the ppl we meet and the emotions we feel or is it just our destiny to feel the way we feel and do the things we do? i dont think there is a real explanation out there...i believe things happen for a reason...even the most insignificant things have a purpose...it may seem like we have free will but i strongly believe it is our destiny that controls how we live our lives......

Answer 7

The term "free will" insinuates the arrival of causes teleologically finite. It is more than dubious for me. Everything follows from cause, no matter how obscure. So, determinism exists, and "free will" is the way the wealthy rationalize their advantages (contending that others have, esstentially chosen their lesser opportunity by making bad decisions).

Answer 8

When it works to our satisfaction, we have free will. When our choices fail us we tend to blame other things. The truth in the blaming determines the truth for the freedom in our will, but this does not guarantee satisfaction. Certainly freedom from hate and anger is true freedom. The worst will is that which blames stupidly and gains no satisfaction from any action and is tortured for it. The free will has wisdom from knowledge and the ability to extend the value of that knowledge beyond itself.

Answer 9

I agree with Chris M, it's both. Events happen in our life, and we choose how to react to them. They may be influenced in part by other people, our upbringing, and previous experiences, but in the end, we decide, based on what we've learned.

Answer 10

Yes. You control your destiny by the choices and path you take. If you make bad decisions at a young age it could make the difference between a good or trying life.