Hi Phil,
We have the opportunity for free will, but our mind is like a computer. The outcome will be dependent on the input, as in the old saying, garbage in, . . . . . . . .garbage out.
The hypothesis of your question is based on a summation of dictates, restrictions, and limitations based on assumption and in reality, the outcome for you will be exactly as you specify it in your mind, which in itself, proclaims and verifies that you do indeed have free will.
For example if you re-structure your scenario, to believe that you do have free will because humans are humans, and not animals, and everything we do is based on choice and options which we pick and choose in establishing out place and status in life, then free will shall become your reality and driving force in life.
If that is the way you believe it is, then that is the way it will be, not for me and others, . . . .but for you alone as you do indeed have . . . . . . . .free will, in choosing what your belief patterns are.
Good question,
Darryl S.
2007-01-23 14:39:04
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Human beings, as well as animals and inanimate events have the ability to break the chains of strict causality postulated by Determinism or biological needs.
We are thus free to influence our affairs and our destiny. In changing our future from what it would have been without the interaction triggered by our free will, we are changing the very universe of which we are an integral part. With the intervention of free will, our future, and thus the future of the universe, will follow a path different from the path it would have pursued without our intervention.
In addition to scientific considerations, common sense insists that Free Will exists. Who would deny that we have Free Will when we put one foot in front of the other and decide, of our own volition, of our own Free Will, to go for a walk or not go for a walk? It is clearly irrational to believe that a chain of causality at the time of the Big Bang determines if we go for a walk this afternoon, or not.
2007-01-24 01:49:46
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answer #2
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answered by Its not me Its u 7
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First you need to define what your understanding of free will is. It may seem self-evident or too simple to need an explanation, but, in philosophy, this is rarely the case. A very subtle difference could make worlds of difference in a philosophical discussion.
Walk to a fork in a path, make a decision. Was it made by your own free will, or are you simply a slave to your own machinery?
Is the decision necessarily directly related to biological needs or instinctual programming? You could explain through some lengthy argument that all the layers of complex workings of the human mind are all aimed towards survival only. It is true, our workings were designed for one purpose: to survive. Does this mean we are endlessly and only directed towards that purpose? I don't think so. It is inside all the powerful and complex behaviours of humans towards survival that free will is found. Ability to sense and understand and remember and imagine, to make our own assessments and decisions based on anything we feel is important are all part of the tools we have been given. Those tools are what makes free will!
Perhaps you wish to argue that we have no free will because the free-will-like things we do have are all aimed towards a certain purpose, negating the possibility that we choose our own actions and purposes, and so the possibility of free will. I think this is a gratuitous argument. How have you shown that our intelligence and ability to interact with reality have not transcended the single-minded concentration towards simple survival goals? I believe that, for example, the study of quantum mechanics or number theory or philosophy shows strong evidence of beings that have seen well beyond survival.
Are we, as you might say, nothing but highly advanced snails, thinking only of better ways to eat or multiply? If we are, then we are certainly very advanced and intelligent snails with great abilities to manipulate and control our surroundings, and have chosen very convoluted paths through extremely deep and complex areas towards finding better ways to avoid predators or find food. I would say that this sounds like snails with free will.
2007-01-23 23:09:00
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answer #3
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answered by Brendan 2
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In a limited sense, Yes, we really have free will.
How is it limited? You cannot chose your parents, your birthplace, your race, etc. Please continue this trend yourself, and you will have to admit that the economical circumstances of where an individual is born is beyond our control, or if the person is born with hereditary defects, this is beyond our control. Many times, the education available in that country, the jobs available is beyond anyone's control.
How do we have free will? We have free will in the choices of our hearts. You decide if you want to become a thief, a murderer, etc. You decide how hard you want to study; also, most people decide when to go to bed, what they eat, whom they marry, and so forth.
I agree that when we take a look at history and around the world, we see that like animals we follow a set pattern. Most societies have similar laws regarding theft and murder; similar customs regarding cities, houses, roads, marriage, school. Everywhere it is extremely similar. Clearly, this stems from biological programming. Still, limited free will exists.
2007-01-24 08:51:50
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answer #4
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answered by Fuzzy 7
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Yes we do have free will.
Philosophizing is not driven by a biological need.
You stated that we are essentially animals, but you did not say we are animals. If you thought that, you would have stated it.
If we are essentially animals, then there would never be any cases of people remembering past lives, and knowing languages that the could not possibly have learned.
Even animals have free will. Take for example, a seeing eye dog. He sees the green light, his master hears the tone, and urges him on, but he knows better, and overrides his training, to do the right thing.
Biological need? What biological need did we have to land on the moon?
I say, we have free will.
2007-01-23 22:32:34
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answer #5
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answered by Feeling Mutual 7
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i think we do have free will. there is a difference between just having these biological wants and needs and actually choosing whatever it is we desire. it's obvious that the basic human or animalistic needs are biologically driven, but what about other things? i mean, when it comes to our beliefs, we are left to choose for ourselves whatever it is that we feel works for us. we have the will to as we please with the information we gather throughout our lives. we decide between right and wrong according to belief systems that have been in play since childhood. i guess i'm saying that i feel free will has less to do with basic, biological wants and needs and more to do with psychological, spiritual, and emotional needs. i believe when it comes to these things, people definitely have free will, because it is these things that are unknown and less familiar. these things are not so sure as our essential needs are. in this case, i believe people are generally more than free to choose what they wish.
2007-01-23 22:51:50
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answer #6
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answered by jamoncita 5
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we do have free will..but only to the relevence of our human form...we are given choices...we do not 'make' the choices...for we would not know what to do with such power...could you imagine 'designing' your wants? choosing the types of things that you would 'feel'...I think nature was very wise in choosing those things and then offering us a menu....its a 'reader's digest'-- offered to us based on what evolution decided would be most pleasurable, relevent and embodying of our nature.
It is hard enough on a day to day basis to make choices with the amount of freedom we have. Can you imagine what that would be if you designed everything from scratch? it would be incredibly redundant.
So we don't have free will to the extent we can be boundless energy like God or something. But concidering our limitations, thats a good thing, we can only process so much, and nature gave us just the right dose of freedom that we can handle to create our future.
Each choice you make builds on itself...you create your own fate...your fate, is simply the collection of choices you make...and even if you go into a path you didn't want...you can always change the path with enough will...its only because we don't beleive in ourselves, that at times we cannot persevere.
2007-01-23 22:38:47
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Well, THIS man does.
I have always maintained that I am the captain of my own ship; the director of my life's play.
If I don't like the way things are going, it is up to ME to make some choices and some changes.
Otherwise I'm just crying in my beer, and that is just lame.
Of course, there are a million random occurances that may either help or hinder my "plans," but I can't be concerned with them, since I'm not clairvoyant.
I just make my choices, and move forward.
2007-01-24 08:12:18
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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We have free will - animals have free will too (but not as much).
Humanities quest is to tame the undesirable qualities of our animal behavior and to strive to achieve better through psychologically developing past the "Me - Selfish" tendencies and to mature into a higher "Unselfish" being.
In exercising our "Free Will" we can choose to remain animals only looking for food, shelter, and sex. Many others strive for being better than this and reach for the stars by creating space ships, telescopes, and philosophies about the human condition to create harmony for all. Most importantly the quest for advancing past animals to search and find "True Love"; incorporating sex, compassion, and selflessness.
2007-01-23 22:31:46
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answer #9
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answered by Giggly Giraffe 7
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We all have what I call our 'basket of needs' and yet we get to choose how we prioritize these needs. If I have a need for roots and to start a family on the one hand, but another need to explore and see the world, I have to make decisions and these are up to me to choose. Sometimes life puts you in situations that were not of your choosing but in most cases, our genes alone can't dictate the path our lives will follow.
How does your theory explain people like Mozart or Rembrandt? They were humans just like us and yet did the most remarkable things...
2007-01-23 22:39:26
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answer #10
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answered by avishtevi 2
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