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Assuming physical determinism trumps everything supernatural, then all human thoughts and behavior have physical determinants that are right here within the physical world. If we could more accurately image the brain, we could see what is going on and what complex processes go into making choices, but based on the elements of biology and environment that impact on us as organisms, it seems unlikely that there is any place for a separate self to exercise "free-will."
Why then is it so difficult to give up the notion of a supernatural force like "free will"?
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2007-06-26 05:35:59 · 19 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's not that difficult, I don't think.
Supernatural free will would violate conservation of energy. At some point, the "ghost in the machine" would have to affect matter in order to get different neurons to fire. This seems absurd when looked at on this scale.
Furthermore, it's absurd that the "ghost in the machine" would be able to know just which neurons to manipulate to cause certain thoughts. It would have to be at least as smart as the brain, probably much more so, so it just pushes the problem into the land of the magical while making it even *more* difficult.
2007-06-26 05:40:18 · answer #1 · answered by Minh 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would disagree that 'free will' is supernatural. I think it just means that we have control over our own choices when there is a choice to be made. Of course not everything is a matter of choice since human experience also has an element of random chance. It is cause and effect coupled with random chance that creates our experience, but our own non-predetermined choices must be the action that sets it in motion. But I would agree that on a theistic scale there is no such thing as 'free will'. God would have to already know everything therefore it must be predetermined in such a place where a god existed. However, since god itself is the delusional concept and god doesn't exist at all then we are in reality free agents.
2007-06-26 05:51:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question of free will is whether, and in what sense, rational agents exercise control over their actions and decisions
using computer's as a example ,
giving up the notion is like admitting that we are just pre-programed software and there are no actions or decisions ever made by us.
i would ask u who wrote the software that we assumed was our free will?and then what is the purpose of playing it out if its pre determined, i would say there is no point its like being a wave on the ocean.
and my last idea is realizing that u have no free will is a crushing blow to your own self knowing that something else determined what happens to u and your surrounding world.
(ex. feeling of being trapped,if u had freewill u would find leaving the trap and or being in it with a choice to leave made it that much more bearable)
2007-06-27 10:40:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will does not exist. It is an illusion.
Every choice you make is the culmination of all your experiences, your memory, and/or animal instinct
If you have 2 paths in front of you. You think you have a choice of which one to take. But the reason you take one over the other is based on everything in your life up to that point. Once you take that path and look back, you can see that the choice was made for you.
And if free will does not exist. Then neither can god.
2007-06-26 05:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by KryptonOne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Miracles play a particularly powerful role in Christianity - especially the most significant miracle of all, Christ's rising from the dead.
How can one accept such claims, while claiming to be a rational modern human being? Well, clearly if one starts out with the presumption that supernatural events are impossible, then no miracles can be allowed.
I believe that Jesus was here. I trust His teachings.
2007-06-26 06:17:18 · answer #5 · answered by Ulrika 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My supernatural free-will just made me eat a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.
2007-06-26 05:40:33 · answer #6 · answered by Resident Heretic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see what is supernatural about free will. JP has tried this argument. I don't buy it.
Free will, to me, is an simple as playing a game of chess.
The mistakes of my life have been my mistakes. I did something wrong. If I had done it differently maybe I would be different.
2007-06-26 05:50:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Educate me,why is free will a supernatural force?
2007-06-26 05:44:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do the Believers
Close their minds and except everything they are told to be the truth
Free will is to have a free mind
Love & Blessings
Milly
2007-06-26 05:39:54 · answer #9 · answered by milly_1963 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Free will is not a supernatural force. Free will is free will. As to god and free will and choice. Believe or hell is not a choice it's an ultimatum. As such, free will it is not.
2007-06-26 05:39:53 · answer #10 · answered by punch 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋