...or is the concept of "free will" just a decption humanity believes to feel like they are in control??
2007-03-01 06:23:40 · 3 answers · asked by minimule67 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Our ability to make choices is not "free will". What we have is the ability to IMAGINE possible, multiple choices in regard to up coming FUTURE actions. We can never do anything other than pick one, however (unless the choices happen to be non mutually exclusive).
The old argument goes - "But we could have chosen differently. So we must have free will!"
Problem is you couldn't have chosen differently. You had one possible path to follow resulting from the single alternative you felt was best at the time. Once making that choice, you acted. You simply can't "rewind the tape" and make the other (even better?) choice.
Choice is a tool of the imagination so as to move us forward towards what we believe is the "best" future circumstance - as best we can figure from our position "now".
Free will is a construct of religion that allows individuals to deviate from "God's path". If religion (or God) didn't "allow" free will then God, who is good(?) would have complete (deterministic) control over human kind and we would live in a paradise of perfect Godly love and beauty. So, to make reality (which is not a Divine paradise) understandable - in connection with an all powerful (good) God - God must allow us free will to deviate from his "plan". In truth, neither God or free will exist.
Once you make your (truly single) choice (among imagined alternatives) and act on it - every other potential choice dissolves into impossibility (as far as what you could have done at the moment you chose to act).
2007-03-01 07:00:04 · answer #1 · answered by Daniel J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think ---- therefore I am ---- that we have only limited "free will." I once heard a great quote on the subject of free will. Goes like this: "We MUST believe in Free Will! We have no other choice." Is this just a "play on words," or does it mean that unless we really do believe in free will, our world will not operate as it should? My answer turns out to be a question also! Did I send this answer because I chose to, or did I send it because I had no other choice? Another question.
2007-03-05 03:56:13 · answer #2 · answered by Bluebeard 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is an illusion.
Does that answer your question?
2007-03-01 07:42:20 · answer #3 · answered by JRSK007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋