Free will question: Can you will yourself to do anything that isn't in your nature?

Question

Doesn't the actual act of doing it prove that it is in your nature?

Answer 1

Every instance of creative novelty is an instantiation of some potential which existed in the structure of the universe, but not necessarily in the structure of the being instantiating it. If you instantiate some kind of creative novelty, it doesn't show that that potential was part of you, but rather that you are part of a larger world than you had previously known or imagined. "Will," in this case, implies an openness to situationally transcendent resources. And yes, you can "will" to be open or "will" to be closed. That's the basic human existential decision.

Edit: Awesome questions today, man.

Answer 2

I saw a documentary about a woman who was burnt very badly in a fire. She was burnt over 90% of her body, survived, and went thru years of surgery. She looked out of her window one day and saw the house across the street on fire. Her instinct was to call 911 and wait, but she had someone else call 911, banged on their door, got no response, finally broke into their garage, and against every fiber of her being, entered that buring house to get those people out. Shesaved both the parents and the children who were sleeping. It is not in anyone's nature to run into a burning house, especially someone who's already lived thru that particular hell. So yes, you can will yourself to do something that isn't in your nature. And no, doing it doesn't prove it is in your nature. What it proves is that we have free will, to even sometimes go against human nature.

Answer 3

I've willed and forced myself to learn computer stuff so I can be on the internet. My answering this question is the result of my efforts, because sitting at a desk in front of a computer is definitely not in my nature.

Answer 4

Behavior is situational. That means if ya drop the average bear in the woods into a the middle of a crisis, his/her survival mode lizard brain kicks in with a vengeance and he/she will do whatever is necessary to survive. There are exceptions, however.

Some people are frozen in fear and go into overload mode--UNABLE to process traumatic information and act in their own best interests.

A FEW others have such a well-developed code of ethics that they have decided in advance where their behavioral limits are, and they have enough self-discipline to stand by their value system even in the face of death itself. These courageous people are rare, but do exist.

So, GENERALLY, people's natures allow for the widest range of behaviors, but sometimes, some people just don't have it in their nature to behave in certain ways. And you are right--our actions reveal our nature.

Answer 5

Well, if a person talked theirselves into robbing a bank because they was being manipulated and concerned for their family's health, it still isn't in their nature.
There was a movie made long ago. about what I described. Wish I could remember the name.

Answer 6

Yes you can, and no it doesn't mean that it is in your nature to do it, but you can alter your natural will to do it, thus making it part of your nature. I would say that is what differentiates us from animals, they can't go against their nature, we can, for example we can go out of our way to help someone when it doesn't benefit us or aid in our survival, that goes against every natural instinct but we do it anyway, making it our nature.

Answer 7

The question presupposes my nature to be static. Seems like I could do something not in my nature that changes my nature.

Answer 8

Sure you can.

It may be in a persons nature to be an Alcoholic, but they can still avoid Alcohol.

Peace!

Answer 9

Sometimes we are pushed by circumstances to act contra to our nature.

This is how Stress and Guilt were created......

Answer 10

Everyone has the capacity for good or evil. But we often will ourselves to
lust after the flesh, while our conscience cries out in pain!