And by freewill I mean the metaphysical doctrine that choices are not a result of prior events and have a will of their own. For example if I choose to deviate from societal norms, it has nothing to do with past experiences or genetics. "I am making an individual choice."
2007-03-03 10:23:48 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
If people play the supernatural card, there's no defense, you may as well pack it in and go home. Faith is remarkably impervious to reason.
2007-03-03 17:15:58 · answer #1 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I do believe in free will...but there is a strong argument suggesting that it does not exist.
Biologically speaking, it makes a lot more sense that our actions are predetermined. It is far more scientific to believe that everything we do and say occurs as if we are actors simply following a script.
What evidence is there to prove that we are not just programmed to think that we have control over our own actions? Perhaps we have no more control than computers do, for example. Do we really think for ourselves or have we just been programmed to process information in a way that we perceive to be 'thinking'.
Our behaviour may just be a result of certain chemicals in our brain reacting in a certain way; the slight genetic differences between every person being only the reason that our actions are not all exactly the same.
2007-03-03 23:29:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
However much we imagine alternatives to what we do, we only do what we do. Saying "I chose" adds no information. When bowling, I cannot choose to throw a strike ball. It happens or it doesn't. In the classroom, I cannot choose to like mathematics if in fact I hate it -- if it were possible, millions upon millions more people would be successful in math classes. I cannot choose the weather, the actions of other people, or the content and configuration of the events I am part of. When I open the refrigerator and "choose" beer over soda, it seems as though there are no constraints on my action, but years of habit, biochemical conditions in my body, and even generations of genetics may have an influence on my action at a level below my conscious awareness.
On the other hand, the literature of Zen Buddhism and much of the writing coming out of Esalen Inst. indicate that when one is "in the moment", all questions of freedom and determinism disappear. Perhaps instead of worrying about who's in control of the ride we should just enjoy the ride.
2007-03-03 11:41:46 · answer #3 · answered by Philo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for as much as we know the universe could be 100% predictable from now until eternity.
maybe your free will is just a result of chemicals being in the right spot. ...and maybe if we had access to all the information there was we could build equations to figure out exactly how things would happen, even free will choices.
.....we will never know this one. just put it in the "maybe the whole universe just started 30 seconds ago" box
2007-03-03 10:51:50 · answer #4 · answered by sean_mchugh6 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever placed you foot in front of an ant's path and it moved around it? The ant thinks it was its own free will to move around it, but was it the ant who decided to place you foot in front of it?
Humans beings are the same way. Alot of things influence behavior in similiar ways to the point that makes me wonder where the influence ends and the free will begins. SOmetimes all our choices are the end results of these influences combining together and thus it not free will that is affecting these people, but circumstance.
2007-03-03 10:31:20 · answer #5 · answered by gotagetaweigh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read Immanuel Kant. He says there are good arguments for determinism and free will. Frankly, I am not sure we can prove that we are free or determined. But one could certainly argue for one side or the other. The question is, would one side be more compelling than the other side?
2007-03-03 12:02:20 · answer #6 · answered by iconoclast12 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You must consider the consequences of your actions onto the world. Acting on freewill is not only irresponsible, but it may be damaging to others.
2007-03-03 10:31:59 · answer #7 · answered by Answer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think I can argue it really, but I can say that I generally don't DECIDE where I'm going and what I'm doing, I'm TOLD by somebody (boss, family, whatever).
2007-03-03 11:20:48 · answer #8 · answered by Voodoid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, an argument can be made against freewill.
However that does not mean it doesn't exist.
It just means you can argue against it. Just like you can argue
against anything else.
2007-03-03 11:15:52 · answer #9 · answered by hunterentertainment 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i wish i could, but i'm feeling very constrained at the moment. :))
2007-03-03 10:45:35 · answer #10 · answered by drakke1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋