free will. do we have it, or does god dictate and script everything we do and say and want? do we have free will or do the mass media and our culture control us our desires and actions, from the moment we're born? do we have it or is my mind under control of a spell? do I really want a big house, a fast car, a thousand beautiful sex partners? do I really want these things or am I trained to want them? are these things really better than the things I already have? or am I just trained to be dissatisfies with what I have now? am I just under a spell that says nothing is ever good enough? maybe the only way to find freedom is to do the thing I don't want to.
2006-11-23 10:13:14 · 12 answers · asked by shimbals 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Whether or not we are controlled my an outside force is irrelevant, in either case life goes on, so you might as well enjoy it.
2006-11-26 10:32:55 · answer #1 · answered by Trayvis 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Determanism has been around for centuries and it still continues to intrigue. There are some things in life that pre-dispose us to certain situations, for example genetics. However, since you mention god; your beliefs certainly will point the way. The Judeo-Christian tradition maintains that we have free will. Now you may ask "Since God is all knowing, doesn't that indicate that God already knows whatever choices I will make and therefore you question whether you really have freedom of choice?" That remains an age old question; however a simplistic answer would be that just because one knows the choice of another; even one's pre-dispostion doesn't deny the fact that the individual has a freedom of choice. It remains important to remember that with freedom comes a responsiblity. You question the effects of marketing, including brand awareness; again the ultimate choice is yours to make. Yours is an important question, be it at the level of consumerism; personal existentialism or for that matter in dealing with questions such as 'why' do we exist and 'where' are we going. There are people that believe in a natural law which states that we as humans, inherently know the right thing that must be done at the right moment. The ethical key is to ask yourself the right questions; to reflect upon the answers and then to act accordingly. Reflection without action is a waste of time unless you learn from the experience for action in the future. If you are dissatisfied with what you have now? Ask yourself why and to what degree. Realism is yet another consideration. If you are five foot one; chances are that basketball isn't a sport that you will excel in; however, you might make a heck of a jockey! Exercise your free will; make the choice and act upon that decision.
2006-11-23 12:42:37 · answer #2 · answered by Geneo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catlovely gave a good answer. From a metaphysical point of view, we are all part of god-god is everything and many believe we choose certain lessons, events, experiences, relationships, etc... before we come into this life, so a "loose" destiny is chosen by us for ourselves perhaps with the help of guides who have progressed further than we. Some believe we can and do deviate from these loose destinies and some progress faster than others in various areas. You could just keep spinning your wheels at a certain level before you get "it" and move on. On another level we are creating our own reality all the time by the words we speak and the things we believe. If I believe I am unlovable my subconscious will find a way to attract unloving people. As for the whole advertising thing, we are very impressionable and create our reality based on the stuff we feed our heads. I try to be careful about what I watch on t.v. etc. esp before bed. There has been a marked rise in serial crimes and violent sex crimes in recent years. I think it's cuz of all these shows-Law and Orders,CSI's,etc. that make sicko violence sexy and glamorous. And all this stuff we've just got to have-it's about people making $. Even the latest disease everybody has to get-OCD,ADD, breast cancer, auto immune disease-it's the Dr's making $. Diseases literally come and go with the nat'l consciousness. Ulcers are out of style so hardly anyone gets them anymore, now everybody's got acid reflux and carpal tunnel! Put yourself under your OWN spell brother. Every morning I do a short prayer or meditation in which I sort of program who I am that day. It's all about mental habits and life skills and those can be learned and unlearned. Good luck.
2006-11-23 11:02:14 · answer #3 · answered by OK 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, we do not have free will. What we do have is free choice.
We can choose this car or that partner, some of us have more than one career choice but if we don't go with the flow then we are left behind. Sure we can drop out of the rat race and live on the farm but if we don't have the cash to pay the taxes they'll evict us. Unless we keep up our knowledge we won't know how to fix the tractor, the local mechanic will not fix it for free... this is the beginning of decay...
2006-11-23 10:22:02 · answer #4 · answered by Freddy F 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The law of Karma,cause & effect,Duality,freewill,& sin. these things are the result of "Desire". The one sin from which all sins spring. They come with the sense of self separate an apart from God.This seperation comes from accepting the desire to eat of the tree of knowledge of Good & evil. When you find a saint who has the power to give shaktipat(baptize in spirit) then you will rise above the law. No longer a "sinner". Having unity with God in unconditional love. Doing the ONLY will,Gods will.
2006-11-23 11:35:11 · answer #5 · answered by Weldon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends onn the person...
the media is trying to control everyone to make us buy and buy and buy but there are people like you who will start questioning this facts and ask is this what I really want? Is this something I will live/die for? Wait a minute, what is a meaningful life? Am I wasting mine?or does a wasted life even exist.
Anyways, you should try asking more questions about life and why we are so easily presuaded or is it just that we want to "go with the flow"?
2006-11-23 10:27:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anita 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah try doing "the thing you don't want to" and then tell me how that 'proof' of free will isn't just ANOTHER case of the strongest desire winning out over the others -- the will to illusion.
I want free will to be true, but not by virtue of lying to myself.
2006-11-23 11:49:48 · answer #7 · answered by -.- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Man is condemned to be free."
..freedom isn't all that great.
With freedom, you may make many mistakes and spend your life regretting them.
You have the choice of breaking out of society, and letting these things no longer be a part of you. I say that this is freedom.
Then again, the idea of "freedom" is different for many.
2006-11-23 10:48:44 · answer #8 · answered by Existentialism 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Free will. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law..but remember, others have it too and may do it back harder.
2006-11-23 10:16:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why, did you lose it? Would you like me to find it for you?
The mere fact that you asked the question shows you haven't lost it.
2006-11-23 10:17:17 · answer #10 · answered by producer_vortex 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋