2007-03-17 03:09:56 · 14 answers · asked by SEE YOU LATER 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We're not programmed, and nor do we have free will. I base this on the trivial observation that you cannot choose what to think before you think it. Thoughts come into your mind unbidden, and you cannot choose what your next thought is going to be, because you would have to already be thinking of it in order to choose to think it, and that leads to an infinite regression.
Undoubtedly there is the influence of cause and effect - something happens to you, and you then think about it - and perhaps there is also a completely random element, but the same could be said of the weather, and we don't say that the weather therefore has free will.
So, if we cannot choose what to think, then we cannot choose what to do either, since our actions are (generally) guided by our thoughts (and any action that is *not* guided by our thoughts wouldn't be characterised as 'will' of any sort anyway).
Hence, as far as I can tell, free will does not exist.
Incidentally though, I think the *illusion* of free will comes from the fact that we can anticipate the consequences of our actions and modify our behaviour accordingly. That's one thing that other complex systems (e.g. the weather) cannot do.
2007-03-17 03:12:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
we are all programmed for when we are born our brains are like computers, and even though every human is unique we all have the same make-up. humans have a strong instinct for survival that is why we have adapted and progressed so well since the beggining of time, but with this comes the feeling that we are all free, we are all seperate entities amidst this planet just trying to survive and be free, no one wants to kept inside a cage or ordered to do things against their own will, so its in our nature to be free.
2007-03-17 10:17:00 · answer #2 · answered by meow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some "do" think that way and some do "not" think that way. Why? because free-will is what makes us humans special in every way. Even more powerful than the great messengers that were created to guide us straight toward the infinite "light" of Heaven.
2007-03-17 10:15:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are programmed to think that we have free will. Arminian theology does just that, and you've already seen several answers to that effect. However, too often the scope of free will gets extrapolated to mean all decisions, and no mainstream Christian theology disagrees with the ability to make day-to-day choices. The only decision that is in dispute is whether we have the ability to look to God for salvation, which leads to a path to hell for the unregenerates (Calvinist belief) and neutrality for Arminians. However, once you give man the ability to seek out God, you take away God's omnipotence, and that leads to all sorts of questions about whether God can be kept under man's control and who is in charge of whom, which leads to how predestination and foreknowledge is defined, the reason for bad things happening in our lives, etc. Calvinism looks at man as totally depraved, which leads to God's unconditional election, the death of Christ being for God's elect rather than the entire human race, grace that cannot be resisted, and "perseverance" of the ones headed to heaven. Arminians accuse Calvinism of having a "robot" or "puppet" mentality, and Calvinists look at Arminians as arrogant, humanist, and even blasphemous in their perceived ability to take away from God's omniscience and give it to themselves.
2007-03-17 10:47:43 · answer #4 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we are...it is called biological determinism. we are in fact programmed by evolutionary processes to behave in certain ways depending on the situation, but because we are individuals we perceive our thoughts and actions as stemming from decisions we consciously make and this phenomena gives us the illusion of free will. we dont really have it but we think we do! and in the end, thats all the counts.
2007-03-17 10:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So you must be a robot if something has to be programmed into you. Cause everyone has free will.
2007-03-17 10:15:42 · answer #6 · answered by iwant_u2_wantme2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do have free will. They don't need to be programmed to think or feel this, it is a fact. We do what we want, believe what we want to believe. Our lives are ours. Belief in a higher power still does not take this away. We may know of believe what we should do, but we still always have the choice.
2007-03-17 10:12:59 · answer #7 · answered by Sweet n Sour 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They probably are.
But then again, I can always chose to jump off a cliff cant I?
And as long as I do and live with the consequences. Ive got free will mate.
2007-03-17 10:13:04 · answer #8 · answered by Antares 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
-10 points for circular logic.
+2 for not answering your own question.
What difference would it make if we did? We'd still have free will, right?
Have a butter cookie, nice and soft.
2007-03-17 10:12:57 · answer #9 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think you are confusing real life with The Matrix.
Hannah J Paul
2007-03-17 10:12:09 · answer #10 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋