2006-12-05 04:14:28 · 11 answers · asked by ~Peachy~ 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think our free will is at least influenced by our cultural training and our genetic inheritance.
2006-12-05 05:17:19 · answer #1 · answered by Ace Librarian 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All that ever is, or was, or will be has already happened. Our awareness is simply the playing out of a thin slice of what has been, like a motion picture reel, focused on a single frame at a time.
Time itself is an illusion brought on by our brand of consciousness.
At the same time, we are not 'puppets' as you suggest. A puppet implies a puppet-master, and such a thing is even less sure to exist than consciousness itself.
You are, in short, a feedback loop, an active observer of events. It's more about what you choose to focus on in the infinite complexity of the reality around you, than about any preordained destiny.
For proof, you need only look at your own ability to anticipate the future. Your ability to do this distinguishes you from other forms of intelligence. If you can do this in a small way, for near-term events, then doing it in a big way for long-term events is only a matter of degree. This implies that the future is more accurately something you help shape through awareness and participation.
2006-12-05 12:38:53 · answer #2 · answered by Todd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love the phrase, "Puppets of destiny"!
But, I have to vote for free will. How else could we explain the messes we get ourselves into?
2006-12-05 12:23:10 · answer #3 · answered by silvercomet 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's kind of a roundabout question. You could argue that because we make choices we have free will, but then you could argue that there never really was a choice, whichever we chose was pre-destined.
I think we have our choice of paths through life: like a course of events. I can make any number of choices in life, but each decision will put me on a certain path. For example: I chose to kiss a friend, and wound up with a wonderful loving boyfriend, but if I hadn't kissed him, we would have stayed friends, and I might be dating someone else right now.
2006-12-05 12:21:45 · answer #4 · answered by Morgan S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I support Victory's answer 100%.
In elaborating, I say that we do have free will to choose whatever we wish to do - we can go right or we can go wrong - either way will bring us to a destination of our own choosing.
It is because we are free to choose that we must be very careful of what we opt to do so that we can avoid as many messes as possible.
2006-12-05 12:32:23 · answer #5 · answered by SANCHA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you believe to be free will is but karma,the actions you perform in thought,word and deed is what creates your life circumstances and your destiny. read the little book, as a man thinketh, by James Allen. p s there is only one will,Gods.
2006-12-05 14:08:31 · answer #6 · answered by Weldon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why do we make certain choices in life that we make...even though we may have a lot of other options??isnt it destiny??destiny doesnt bind us....it sets us free.destiny is the goal of our life.and a lot of us die even without getting to know what we were born for.many make bad choices and end up differently.so..... although destiny is there its up to us if follow the path or not!!! wow!!!
2006-12-05 12:38:52 · answer #7 · answered by cuteguy200320042005 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey bud have you been watching to many movies?? Huuuuum have you? We are creatures of destiny in that we are destined to die, destined to age, but aside from that nothing is assured in your life. that's my opinion.
2006-12-05 12:24:22 · answer #8 · answered by Etherial 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Experience of choice does not make it free.
2006-12-05 14:29:04 · answer #9 · answered by -.- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course you have free will. You can either suffer and live or committ suicide and go to hell.
2006-12-05 14:45:07 · answer #10 · answered by mouthbreather77 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋