Well, ive always been into philosophy, but I am often thinking about the question of fate and freewill. Can they both exsist? Does our freewill make up our fate? If so, then our freewill surley does not mater becuase our fate is unexscapeable. But maybe we create our fate with our free willed choices? Sombody help me out.
2007-01-05 10:04:03 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Think of the equation x + y = 7. 7 is the final product, so this is what adding x and y together will result in, they are destined to be 7. So x and y can be a variety of things, just as long as the result of their addition equals 7. Here you have x and y demonstrating extensive yet limited free will while creating a destiny.
2007-01-05 10:11:40 · answer #1 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally do not believe in either fate or ultimate freewill.
For Fate to exist, there must be something that is outside our existence to do the 'fating'. This would imply the existence of a god or some other supernatural being. I have not seen any definitive evidence for the existence of such a being.
However, it is quite apparent that we do not have freewill since there are so many events and variables in ones life that we have no ability to influence, like who our parents were, our sex, our race, etc. We cannot control the weather and neither can we violate the laws of physics that govern our planet (just try to fly or jump off a cliff). Our freewill seems to be quite limited to the color of socks we might wear one day, or what we have for lunch, or what we do for a living.
Our lives are adventures and should be enjoyed the best we possibly can, while being the best citizen of the world we can be.
2007-01-05 10:14:40 · answer #2 · answered by philcya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in fate or destiny, then that removes at least some aspects of freewill. Destiny implies that no matter what you do, you will eventually reach an end result that has been predetermined by some force other than you. Freewill does not fit into that scenario; same thing if you look at it from the freewill side. If you are making all of your own decisions, then there cannot be a predetermined result of your actions.
2007-01-05 10:09:36 · answer #3 · answered by tok913 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to break it to everyone but there is no such thing as fate. People allow themeselves to get caught up with movies, books, and yes even religion. Everything that happens to you is either your own doing, a coincidence, or luck. Someone already said this above, but to believe in fate is imply there is someone behind the curtain pulling the strings. C'mon, I don't buy it. Even if you're a religious person, your higher power does not control your will and decision making.
2007-01-05 10:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by Xman0076 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in both. I believe that your choices determine your fate. But you could also think of it this way.. Time is only the way in which we experience this form of existence. If we were not limited to experiencing the one-way passage of time, then in basic terms you could say that "Everything that will happen has already happened," or at least that you could "see" all events regardless of their point on our past-present-future timeline.
However, we ARE limited, so we can't see. And regardless, personal choices still determine everything.
It's not so much that your fate is inescapable, but that you determine the fate from which you cannot escape :)
2007-01-05 10:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by Jeanine 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of those questions that you could go round and round on. I like to believe that nothing is predestined. That we always have the ability to create our own destiny. No one is in control but you. I think fate is a cop out people use to convince themselves that they had no choice but to do what they did. It removes the accountability from the individual. Like I said...It's a cop out.
2007-01-05 11:16:32 · answer #6 · answered by Gabby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never studied philosophy, but being a religious person I believe that destiny falls into 2 categories. One that is permanent and bound to happen no matter what you do and the second is the type that keeps changing based on our actions. It is in the 2nd type of destiny that we are allowed to make our decisions ie. free will.
I personally believe death and other major events fall into the 1st category of destiny
2007-01-05 10:11:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a great question. I believe in destiny, but your destiny will only get you so far. It is still your choice to do or not to take action. Your free will determines your destiny as your destiny is ever changing, ever evolving.
If you were destined to be in Alaska and you live in Egypt, it is your free will that makes you get on that plane or not get on it. Of course, if you don't get on the plane, well then your destiny changes a bit.
2007-01-05 10:08:28 · answer #8 · answered by dragonflyrivers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On this level of law where man believes he is separate and apart from God, with a will of his own, then he is blind to his unity with God and believes he is responsible for all his actions. Desire is what causes this sense of duality. Desire, through the law of karma, actions, in thought, word, and deed create your life circumstances and your destiny. Fate is different from destiny and i can't recall the differance. When one rises into Spiritual unity with God in uncomditional love within your heart, doing Gods will, then God is the doer and one is lifted above the law, no more "sinner".
2007-01-05 12:59:03 · answer #9 · answered by Weldon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The selective things you do which are by way of freewill paves the road to your destiny.
2007-01-05 10:07:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋