How can we be certain that we have free will?

Question

Some people believe in destiny and I think they may be right. If we are destend to do something, where does free agency fit in? Isn't all we do a product of what our experiences and chemical make up lead us to do? Is it possible to think of something that has nothing to do with what we have learned, seen, heard, etc.. Think of something that is alien to our own experiences, something totaly spontanious.

Some people believe in destiny and I think they may be right. If we are destend to do something, where does free agency fit in? Isn't all we do a product of what our experiences and chemical make up lead us to do? Is it possible to think of something that has nothing to do with what we have learned, seen, heard, etc.. Think of something that is alien to our own experiences, something totaly spontanious.

The greatest physicist of our time is Stephen Hawking. The last chapter of his book "Black holes and baby universes" deals with the concept of free will. He states that free will is an illusion. An illusion by it's very nature can never be proven.

Answer 1

We have either one of two scenarios here, if you categorize it one way: we have a situation (1) where cause determines effect or we have a situation (2) where cause only partially determines effect. I think we can disregard the situation where cause does not determine effect at all, because we have witnessed cause-and-effect relationships, and incidentally we are assuming that "effect determines cause" is a restatement of (1).

If (2) is true, then there is something left over in what determines an outcome after we remove the element of cause. I suppose that from a physics point of view we should call it 'true randomness'. From our point of view in the physical world, the motions and oscillations of matter, energy, and even spacetime are unflinchingly random. Not the sort of complexity that arises from deterministically chaotic systems, but actual, true randomness. I feel that this must be an artefact of a disadvantaged point of view, but that may be a minority opinion.

To put on finer point on it... Q:"How can we be certain that we have free will?" - A: "Q: What is 'free will'?"

Basically, you are a robot made of chemicals. There are no processes in the body that baffle science to such an extent that the consensus is that we must improve theory. The human body does not mystify us, as scientists, the brain notwithstanding. Surely, it's a wonderful thing, but we think that we know the physical principles behind it.

Now while all this is true, it is also true that "you" are collectively the set of processes that interact to decide the behaviour of the robot. By definition, you are. So, accordingly, you are what decides. You merely observe yourself behaving, yet at the same time you behave the way you do because of what you observe. This creates a feedback loop of sorts, and the screeching racket it makes is called consciousness. Each brain makes a different piercing whine, due to differences in the accoustics of our skulls, etc.

Answer 2

Todd, it sounds to me like you are mixing up your own religion concoction.

Have you read the Bible? That would be a very good starting place. It will tell you about the Creator, the Creation, how mankind fell and how our heavenly Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have providing the Way of Redemption.

Those who reject the Way will be without excuse when it comes to Judgment.

Answer 3

We can be certain we have free will because in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve chose freely to rebel. If they didn't have free will they would have continued as happy robots and lived forever on a paradise earth. I only wish they would have chosen to obey and tell God that they wanted him as their ruler because then this world would not be in the mess it is today! Another thing, if they were not given free will in the first place God never would have put that option in front of them not to partake of one tree. They had all the rest of the fruit trees that they could have eaten from. They freely chose to pick the one God forbade them to touch.

Answer 4

Destiny...think of it more as "Gods Plan". God has a plan for all of us, but if we do not accept that, and strive to know his plan, then we do what WE want. That is what free will is about. We have the freedom to have a relationship with the Lord, and follow His plan, whch is the only way to true meaning and happiness, or we can choose not to seek His will, and do what we want.

Answer 5

I used to think like that until I studied quantum physics. I now believe that a whole range of outcomes are possible, rather than one outcome being pre-determined by past events, and free will is the phenomenon that determines the outcome.

Answer 6

It is a concept that I am still trying to figure out, but I do think I am in control of my own life. I am the creator of my own destiny.

Answer 7

Desity is fake. Fate isn't real.

The bible says that the invisible person in the sky with super powers plans everyday of your life before you're even born. So based on that, this allegedly loving god is responsible for all murders and rapes.

Answer 8

According to Heisenberg Unccertainity Principle, you can never be 100% certainof anything.

Answer 9

If you have the ability to make decisions everyday whether they be large or small, important or not, then you have free will regardless of what your experiences are.

Answer 10

Just read all the garbage on here. If there is a God and he
don't strike them DEAD! There must be free will!