does free will really exist?

Question

I wanna get away from the religious argument that ties itself to the question and focus more on the philosophical and political part of this question. I am not opposed the religious argument if you have something good to say but I have heard the unescapable logic that supports it. One thought that is bothering about free will is that if we do have free will then that makes us morally responsible for the moral evils that we do. Well the Univesal rights define these moral evils as innate. Well can anyone prove that to me? It seems like we are culturally defined to see certain things as evil. Things like canniblism, adultry, and cruelity can all be seen by another culture as another part of life.

Another thing I would like to adress is that the "bible" says that are free will is in direct relation to God's divine will. This would make God responsible for man's evil actions. If man has Free will then God can not exist because is perfectly good and how could he allow man to

perform such evil acts? These are not my views but arguments that have made me really think if we really have free will or not. On a more personal note I grew up in religious home so I have somewhat a grasp on religious thinking so please leave out bible verses to support your answers.

To comment on spore answer I did not define the terms of good and evil because I was hinting at the fact that such things do not exist. Whatever we call evil can be seen by another culture as good. However, this causes a problem for me I can't sit back and say what Hitler did was not evil and this is a very upsetting thought. I liked Sophist answer ( the begining) as our choice have a relationship to all others. I may not be able to say what Hitler did was "evil" but how he effected the world around him caused him to be killed (kill himself out of fear what the others where going to do to him). We can not let such things happen simply because our idea of good and evil is through our own ego perspective.

Answer 1

We are free to make our own decisions. However, we are not free to decide the outcome of the decisions we make.

Answer 2

You're not abstracting enough. There is a category error here, and it's the concept of will. A will is not in the category "effects" at all. We put it in that category because everything else we know has a cause. In fact, most of our behavior apparently does have some variety of a cause influencing it. But that which we choose and do, is ultimately just that which we choose and do - it is irreducible. It arises, and is the "will" of "god." Seeking a cause for our "will" is absurd. The "cause" of the universe is just the universe - it just happens. It is the divine will, as a figure of speech. Yes, we have free will in a sense; and yes, all that we do is predestined by god, in a sense.

So metaphorically speaking, yes, God is responsible for man's actions. It is our godgiven nature to act _as we do_ ... this is reflexive. Our nature is defined by our actions, which are determined by our nature... see, it's nonsense.

Your other question is about good and evil and you have failed to define your terms. What is "good" is that which is "god's will" which is that which actually arises, occurs. I think that's why they say that god will be the judge, not humans... our definition of good and evil is based on an ego perspective, not a god perspective, and can't be "correct." Dogmas go on about what's okay and what's not according to "god" but that's just human dogma, it's what suited the values of the time and place the dogma was written. Anyone who says morality isn't ultimately relative is a victim of self-deception. But that does not detract from the importance of morality at all; in fact it adds to it.

Answer 3

Man makes "choices" that are defined immutably by the universe in which we reside. The devices we use to make those choices are also confined to the universe. Since every point in the universe bears a relationship to all others, no change can be made that will not affect those relationships. Those relationships have an incredible momentum and cannot be lightly altered on a whim or thought. Try as we might, we journey the path that was laid out for us many millennium ago. Whatever we do or say or think, we are compelled down that path that we cannot see nor understand, but down it we go.

"The best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray and leave us but grief and pain for promised joy." Ode to a Louse by Robert Burns.

Answer 4

Yes and no. I do not think we have TRULY free will. At all points in our lives we are, in esscence, brainwashed or forced into following some moral system or other, be it politically or religiously. What makes use morally resposible is our choice to follow those rules put before us. Moral evils are not so much innate as they are learned. If I was never told that hitting you because you made me mad was wrong and no one ever corrected me when I did it, I would continue to do it.

As for free will in relationship to God's devine will: How can there be a being that is dicating my life even though I am also controlling it? It's impossible for two beings to be in control of one life unless there's a serious war being waged.
Now, dipping lightly into religion for the sake of the argument, let's say that we do have free will. However, as a member of a particular religious faction, we surrender our free will in order to be in ailignment with the rules of that institution. And no, it would not make God responsible for man's evil actions. If man has surrendered his will to God, in theory, since God is perfectly good, man would be perfectly good. Now, if man were to take back his will, he has also taken back his propensity for evil.

And as far as everyday society. Yes, I can choose to do whatever I want to, but if it is in violation of the rules, i will be punished accordingly. That isn't to say I CAN'T do it, I just must be aware that it's not accepted in my society.

All that to say, yes we basically do have free will, it's just what we choose to do with it. In life there are a lot of neon signs saying, "Do this or else". We have to choose whether to follow the herd or suffer the consequences (or potential rewards) of "or else".

Answer 5

Humans are unique because we have an egotistical self, which just about everyone identifies as their 'personality.' And, supposedly, we are also gifted with a spiritual self whos still, small voice gets louder when we listen and let 'it' guide our thoughts, actions and even our feelings.

You, we, are given the free will to decide which one will answer the door, so to speak, when life knocks.

Nature is moving in a definate direction, so why not move with it? Less pain, less suffering...the choice is always yours to make and Nature/God is in no hurry if we need to learn the long, hard way. Karma or cause/effect, whatever...nature nudges us until we do the right thing...on our own, and welcomes us home when we eventually do.

Answer 6

The problem of free will is the problem of whether rational agents exercise control over their own actions and decisions. Addressing this problem requires understanding the relation between freedom and causation, and determining whether or not the laws of nature are causally deterministic. The various philosophical positions taken differ on whether all events are determined or not—determinism versus indeterminism—and also on whether freedom can coexist with determinism or not—compatibilism versus incompatibilism. So, for instance, hard determinists argue that the universe is deterministic, and that this makes free will impossible.

The principle of free will has religious, ethical, and scientific implications. For example, in the religious realm, free will may imply that an omnipotent divinity does not assert its power over individual will and choices. In ethics, it may imply that individuals can be held morally accountable for their actions. In the scientific realm, it may imply that the actions of the body, including the brain and the mind, are not wholly determined by physical causality. The question of free will has been a central issue since the beginning of philosophical thought.

Answer 7

We can make a choice or cause change, but perhaps the free will, is not entirely ours alone. You seek absolute answers here when there can be none, regardless if or not you are spiritual or religious.To think all is just plain luck, takes away from your own intelligence. There are many variables in life as you can understand. Free will does exist in mankind, I just think as well we do not control it all alone.

Answer 8

Does free will really exist?
Let's first address the free will question.

If we had no free will and are ultimately controlled by some higher power then either that higher power is by definition schizophrenic by making some people do this or that or causing them to not even know what they are doing or to do.
to say that you and I could be controlled, including all of the world; we could say that by this reason that the higher power has intelligence and is Omni-present to be able to control everything at the same time; also Omni- potent to be able to control everything. This would also say that there is a moral absolute as that higher power so decides; so that to which it or He wants to do is accomplished. In reality there is one who is in complete control and yet not to make us robots has so decided to give us a free will. We are here for a purpose and by a purpose, we have the free will to choose one out of two choices; which place you are destined to be. though the one who has given us this free will having perfect knowledge, knew before you ever came to be who and what you would choose; the way you would live your life.
Free will hasn't caused you to choose it is only an opening of opportunities by which you may or may not choose.

Does evil exist? Good question, to understand this let's look at it from this point of view.
Have you ever left a sand-witch or some kind of morsel of food out for a prolonged period of time let's say a month, and found that, that which once looked appetizing is no longer so; for if you were to consume it would inevitably cause an grievous illness. Now to say that neither good nor bad exist is an ignoramus (i.e. ignorant, without knowledge). In order for there to be good morally there must be bad, and vice versa. To tell someone that they have to leave out any bible verses says that you are exerting out of your free will some kind of moral choice; to cause another to adhere unto your will.

Does God exist? Or is it time plus chance plus matter?
If the God of the Bible doesn't exist, then we are forced to make the drive for pleasure or the drive for power to be our gods, the clenched fist or the Hue Hefner. What ever in your life is your master passion, your focus in life that is your god. Chance doesn’t exist; it is just a byword by which a person describes the unknown. God doesn’t play dice in reference to the quantum theory of chance. Math and Science when dealing with equations are by way of probability, not chance. In order to know about something you need to be able to test it with that which is known; for to test the unknown is unknowable. “What quantum physics does is give us the statistical probability of the electron's location at any one moment. By learning how these particles act, scientists can better understand the matter which makes up the universe, and the way it behaves (or misbehaves). Quantum physics even plays a part in blackholes, where regular physics is thrown out the window and then some!” The design of an incredible universe. God or chance? I choose God and His sovereignty; upon that choice that I made, comes my responsibility to live by a moral law, though only through God’s sustaining power.

J.C.E Jude 1:3

“O let the place of secret prayer become to me the most beloved spot on earth.”

Andrew Murray.

Answer 9

loose will does exist, a minimum of in concept. the position the confusion is equipped in is even as human beings element in reason and result: "for each action there is an equivalent or more advantageous reaction". you've the alternative to do even with you opt for regardless of what's going to ensue in case you do. Yoou can ensure to take the fast restoration which will carry prompt gratification or opt for to difficult it out and acquire a existence of delight. the options are there. the reason you do not think in loose will is because in a "civilized" (and that i exploit the time period loosely) lifestyle, there are, as you're saying larger forces or causations for your moves. in case you've been to positioned your self in nature, without governing guidelines to restriction your judgements, then you truly ought to discover that your will replaced into the regulation. you should do even with you wanted, as long as you've been able to maintain your human being properly-being interior the technique. for that reason, loose will must succeed and be the rule of thumb, not the exception. Have a good day!

Answer 10

Whether or not we have free will is unprovable. We seem to have free will, so at the least we have the illusion of free will. Since we have the illusion of free will we can come to one of two deductions: we either have free will, or the agent/s controlling us desires that we believe we have free will. If the latter is true then we will never be able to prove that we lack free will unless the desires of the agent/s controlling us changes.

Answer 11

For every cause, there is a consequence.
Free Will exists, as well as the backlash that comes with it.

The manifestation of a perfect being is a by product of Man's vanity. Of Mankind's eternal quest for perfection.