an argument against free will?

Question

this argument does not necessarily reflect my opinions, i'm simply throwing out this side of the argument. tell me your thoughts after reading.

1. every action, decision, etc. we make is based off of a reason. that reason stems from a past experience. that experience was based off reason -- it simply goes down the line until whenever implicit or explicit (whichever comes first) memories begin to form. therefore, memories seem to be what binds us from having true free will, although that free will would simply be randomness.

2. the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics states that one can only know one of these variables at a given time: speed of an electron or it's location. it also states if one knew both, they would be given an infinite amount of information regarding that atom. doesn't this imply that fate is already mapped out.

Answer 1

Well, I guess I have no choice but to leave this answer then...
I can't combat the logic of either side on this one but I've found my happy medium in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead

Life is a play and the lines and plots are already written... our only choice is how eloquently we deliver our lines.

Answer 2

1. If this is an argument against free will, then it stands to reason that we are but automatons following our programming. However, many humans base their decisions on a broad variety of factors--reason, life experience (which is not the same thing), emotion, personal preferences, impulses, recommendations, peer pressure, culture, etc. All these factors, along with our seemingly random mixture of them in our decision-making process, would appear to make human will very non-deterministic.

2. The uncertainty principle does the opposite: it demolishes the notion of a deterministic (mapped-out) world. It's not that we simply lack the technology to know the exact position and momentum of an electron; it is impossible to know them exactly EVEN IN THEORY. This means that there is, indeed, true, genuine randomness in nature. Thus it is impossible for fate to be "already mapped out," because random events would always interfere.

Answer 3

Not every single action is for a conscious reason. Many things still stem from instinct.

if u see a baby toddling across a busy street, while u have free will to stand there and watch, your reaction to do "something" is mostly instinct. Pulling your hand from the fire is instinct.What happens AFTER that is more free will.

An animal has no choice in many cases, it has to follow instinct. We can choose to stand and watch something horrible and do nothing. Free will is a matter of degree. True free will would be deciding whether to breathe, whether to sleep at all, etc. .... We have more free will than the animals but nothign is absolute.

Answer 4

forgive me if I'm wrong, but I believe it is more than if in -Motion- it becomes impossible to give precise location. Its been too long since school let out, but I think thats more the gyst of the principle you're referring to.

However I can see the point you make. Whether I advocate it or not, I have yet to decide. Rather, can the mind handle the helplessness this arguement suggests. Very interesting, I would be interested to discuss this further if you are ameniable to the idea.

Answer 5

In my view, the greatest proof of freewill is the inconsistency of human behavior.... the day the science of psychology can establish perfect and predictable cause and effect relationship in every human thought and action, then and then alone can we confidently speak of freewill being an illusion.
An interesting thought I have here is that it is due to freewill of the living beings, including ourselves, that there are such uncertainties in the world... the pure physical world seems to be rather orderly and predictable.

Answer 6

The one common factor that is crucial are perception and expectation.....

Ever action we make is based on us receiving the information through our senses then...that data then settle into the neat boxes we have in our minds and form a pattern....then comes the intepretation of of those data...

There are plenty of instances and examples of people seeing what they want to see....

Free will goes back to our expectation of what free will is then matching it up with the data from our perception....

Answer 7

I even have none. the only difficulty unfastened will doesnt provide the perfect to do, in spite of the undeniable fact that it does, is to willfully opt to sin and disobey Gods commandments. we dont could desire to stay with all of the commandments of adult adult males, jesus proved that some human beings call issues a sin while they don't look to be. in LDS theology, doctrine says God has given us the perfect to be unfastened brokers unto ourselves. and someplace God decreed that the unfastened employer of guy shall not be interferred with. the only subject with it is the plan of lucifer to tension all mankind into starting to be suitable. plans like the Nazi third Reich and Stalin and Mau, in china and russia and germany Evil dictators have consistently destroyed the decree of God to not intrude. adult adult males could desire to consistently discover ways to comprehend the version between the dominion of God the place you may desire to purchase milk and bread without money and nonetheless could desire to artwork to get it, and the enslavement of mankind that have been merely someway born into an underclass society.

Answer 8

If we have no free will, then what's the point of philosophizing?