What is the source of free will?

Question

In our brains, that is.

I'm in a bit of a predicament. All of my individual rationalizations, such as my belief in libertarianism, atheism, and existentialism, are all based on the concept of free will. But to know that this concept is refutable on the simple basis of determinism and scientific practicality is a bit unnerving.

For quite some time science has been my ally in upholding the complexities of my rationale, but it at the same time refutes them on sheer principle. I need to know: a) is there free will and b) if so, where is it? What aspect of our psyches and gray matter houses this phantom of a concept?

Are our choices and decisions determined by mere variables and circumstance? Are our brains nothing than input-output machines; mirrors reflecting nothing but the environment around us in a distorted light?

Answer 1

'Free Will' is enigmatic at best. Looking at it from the perspective of choice, we have free will. However, if we look from outside of ourselves, we live lives that are largely determined by factors beyond our control. This kind of paradox is the same as the Einsteinian/Quantum Physics one. Looked at from its own side, each makes perfect sense. But when you try to put them together into a unified whole--LOOKOUT!

From a brain function perspective, I think that the roots of free will lie in our capacity for memory, comparison, interpretation, and imagination.

Answer 2

We live mostly in a conceptual realm. Since birth, we have been conditioned /programmed creating the 'personality'...belief system, interest, etc. It doesn't take much to realize that we are walking, talking automatons, reacting to the stimuli at any given time, according to the conditioning.

The 'will to live' was born and remains untouched..it could be called the life force.

The mirror analogy is a good one. We are the mirror, ultimately remaining untouched by all that passes in front of it.

The life force, like energy, cannot go anywhere. It does 'leave' the body/personality...like characters in a movie.. the life force or will stays...repeating...just for the entertainment of it. It's quite the joke, really.

Rational thought is a killer, and yet, we cannot just "be" or so it seems. If one can learn to 'drop' thoughts early on, before they take root...will or life force may peek out and bring some peace.

None of this makes sense...right? =D Oh well....

Answer 3

A brain is more than an input output machine, intellect is a remarkable device. Consider, what the human brain has conceived of in devices, abstraction techniques (set theory or object orientation), data relations, probability sense, calculation, catalogue distribution.

Imagine a computation model that can catalogue data, relate data, calculate data, derive probability from data...... and you have basically a home computer, then add the magic human formula - concieve of a computational model that can unboundedly abstract all data and redo the lot with the new paradigm... and so on and so forth endlessly.

That is free will.

Answer 4

Free will... well, depending on the definiition, it can be said that it is merely an illusion. However, if it is merely freedom to choose what you will, it already exists - in that we, who are uninformed, can seemingly choose anything. Perhaps during another time, what will be, WAS. But that fact does not change current circumstances, which could already have happened, by the way. Time, being relative, is merely a unit that occurs, sort of like gravity. Thus, I am right.

Answer 5

Sorry that your difficulties are as they are.

The brain functions the same as these computers here.... They're loaded with programs from the beginning (factory if you will) = mother & father, then more is constantly added and upgraded = "life". Free will is the operating system.

Keep in mind too something about "science".... LOL Not too long ago science said that the world was FLAT! Human beings haven't changed much since then! ;););) Good luck!

Answer 6

Free will is used as a relative term of control. But thinking in absolute terms, free will implies that nothing causes your will to exist, that you are independent of the universe. That's a clear contradiction.

But you're scared of this realization because you've made the wrong assumption that machines are lifeless. A machine IS life. Variables, reactions, results, everything. That is what life is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

relative free will. i read recently that we have a choice somewhere between the most skillful and the least skillful action to take. perhaps free will is to push our decision beyond our comfort zone.to change. do the right thing so to speak,even tho that's not what we want to do./as long as we have relative views we have to make relative decisions.But on a larger scale it does look like a program running itself off and then again thats what new input is for. change??! evolution

Answer 8

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Answer 9

An interesting perspective. Although, where are your feelings? If free will does not exist, neither do your feelings. Where are your feelings?

This is the difficulty of theoretic thinking.

Answer 10

freewill is not real, it is a huiman language given with meanings and therefore, there is no freewill at all we are just created to live and not to choose because what we call choices are just mere chanches leading to one's fate