An Inquiry into Free Will?

Question

Considering the number of questions asked each day, I'm sure this topic has arisen several times, but for the sake of discussion...

Does free will exist among living beings? Are our actions and thoughts dictated by our biology? Are we no more free in our existence than a single celled organism? Or is there a constant self underneath our biology that lets us act freely (perhaps a soul)?

Is the fact that we have a consciousness an illusion of free will?

Answer 1

No free will. It's an illusion. All acts are determined by the laws of physics. You think you have options and are making choices, but those thoughts are generated by you previous chemical brain states in conjunction with the environment around you.

Answer 2

Not sure how physics & biology is getting into an R & S section, but I see too many assumptions that free will is either a given or nonexistent for scientific reasons. In theological terms, it has to do with whether we have the ability, in our sins, to be able to choose our salvation. I say no, we don't have that capability, and numerous biblical passages will back me up on this issue. This would make free will something that is not to be desired if all we can do is reject God, which may give you answers to your questions with a bit of a twist attached:

- Yes, free will exists among living beings.
- It doesn't matter whether our actions and thoughts are dictated by our biology, we are headed for the same place regardless, save for God's grace.
- single celled organisms do not have a soul to worry about. We do.
- A "constant self" would still naturally reject God.
- Same thing with consciousness itself, a non-issue if we all stand guilty before the Lord.

Answer 3

I don't believe that we have free will. Our biology is dictated by nature, and our experiences only affect how our brains learn a given thing, and how they function from that point on. If the brain is dead, you might as well be dead, and it is that way for a reason. Yes, you could say that our consciousness provides the illusion of free will.

Answer 4

If you believe that you are on automatic pilot and that you have no control over your actions and thoughts, then I think you are wrong. I make decisions daily that are not automatic, but in fact, are actions I do after a thought process with a decision at the end.

Your question begs for a science-fiction plot to an imaginary story that would make an interesting movie. It however, is not the world that I live in daily.

Answer 5

To only queue in on your last line; consciousness is hardly an illusion. I know you presented it as a question but it's illogical for anyone to believe in human consciousness as an illusion. To do so would negate all existing life as sentient beings.

Answer 6

Consciousness is not an illusion of free will. I have many choices, but I can choose any one of them. Our biology may affect our decisions (influence) like hunger, but we still have to act on it.

Answer 7

I guess if you believe in Darwinian evolution, all of our actions are programed to respond to stimuli. That being the case, everything that ever occurred in human history was pre-ordained, and we are mere machines, with no will of our own.

My belief is that we were created and given free will. That makes us accountable for our actions. We can choose to do something, or choose not to. In the other model, mass murders like Mao, Stalin and Hitler were merely fulfilling their destinies. You can't have it both ways.

Answer 8

It depends what one did in the 1st Earth Age to qualify for Free-will.

Answer 9

Well i think that most people do not exercise their free will
It is much easier to let others think for you
I find it lazy and apathetic

Answer 10

Our conscience, our moral character is what seperates us from all other animals. God created us this way. We are incharge of all the other creatures. Freewill determines our conscience and character. It is truth. Seek the Lord and you will find him.