Do we really have free will?

Question

Are we really independent?

Every choice we make is because of either:

The way we are, the way our minds work or happen to be.
And/Or
Events that happen to us in our lives.

What other factors affect our decisions? Every choice we make happens for a reason, a unique reason in only our lives that makes us choose something, or our minds work in a way that makes us always chose something... I could be born evil and my mind could work in a way to choose immoral choices... i could than choose moral choices because of an event that happened to me and changed me... e.g. cheating death. You get me... some might... Think

Answer 1

Free will is an illusion that we hope will give our lives direction.

(Read also: small men thinking it isn't the size that counts.)

Answer 2

Not whilst we're alive anyway. Being part of the universe we are always being influenced by it. Each decision we make could be traced back, cause and effect, to the beginning of time. Try it... you'll certainly get fed up after a short while, but you'll get the idea.
What makes us think we have free will? We make choices, is perhaps the answer to that. Sometimes we make the wrong choice, which could indicate free will, but more likely just plain stupidity. Like driving down the motorway we feel like stopping at the next welcome-break for a pee, but think we can wait 'till the next 'cos we're in a hurry...and get stuck in a traffic jam: extreme plain stupidity!
Nah, we don't have free will, but we will one day. But then it'll be too late 'cos we'll be dead, and that'll be that.
So in conclusion, nothing to worry about, eh. Well, as long as you've got a iron bladder, that is.

Answer 3

First of all, you must understand that everything is relative. Once you've comprehended that, you're fine. From here on the tough thoughts start. Do we have free will? I would wish to believe so. Is there an Ultimate Force out there above us? Yes also. Do I think it dictates a single thing I do? No f...... way! However this subject pops up whenever I discuss this. Let's say I have made a specific decision, I 've made it by myself, freely and I'm happy about it. Who says that it wasn't or was meant to be, or that it was a piece of a greater plot. For reasons of obvious sanity, I say that I make my own decisions no matter what, if something dictates it, I don't care, therefore I live life the way it supposed to be lived, respectfully , but not chained with a shroud of fear and doubt.

Answer 4

This is the excuse used by Christians such as the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope, to explain away such as the Holocaust when asked, "why didn't God put a stop to it?" "Because mankind has free will".

No one can prove the existence of God. The entire nonsense is bound up with something called 'faith', whatever that is! People have to spend their lives believing in something which is unscientific and surrounded by waffle.

What is worse about all the major religions, is that they are entirely bound up with the business of making money.

Look at it like this. You'd imagine that the English had already paid for the construction of their Cathedrals, what with the Tithe Taxes they have paid for hundreds of years. Yet if you go to any cathedral these days, they ask you to pay an entry fee, like it was some sort of club or den of iniquity.

I thought Jesus Christ whipped the money changers from the Temple. What happened to that?

Answer 5

Well it could be that we're all born blank canvases, and molded by our upbringing and society in general, therefore making choices based on what we've learned. Learning about reward and consequence through experience also plays a big role in which choices we make.

Life is complex, so the answer is probably yes and no. For example, a murderer had a choice to kill, but what choice did the victim of that murderer have? We make our own choices, but we're also vulnerable to the choices of others. So, in essence, we're responsible for ourselves, and in some ways for each other.

Answer 6

No, free will doesn't exist. I was forced to answer this question.

Seriously, free will is visible in every decision we make. It isn't limited to big decisions, but every decision.

Genetics is only part of what makes us unique. It is the blueprint. Our childhood provides the building materials and our parents and teachers and society in general are the builders. What we become is the sum of all the influences on our lives and our own decisions.

If you learn to cut class at an early age and do it, you have chosen not to learn something in favor of learning something else. Your choice.

Answer 7

We have a degree of free will.

I say there is a continuum between pure instinct (an amoeba) and pure free will (nothing we have ever witnessed) where one chooses every single action/reaction in all circumstances. Such as choosing to love your child the 1st time you hold it or choosing to pull your hand out of the fire.

We have more free will than any animal on earth. But are still subject to many instincts

Answer 8

the way i see it...

when i make a decision i have to consider the following factors - who i would upset, whether it is worth upsetting them, what my parents would think, what the government has to say (you can't even look at someone for fear of sexual harrassment), what my culture/religion has to say, what i want to do, and some other things lol

basically, once ive taken everything into account, i cant do anything because of my CONSCIOUS. so i may have the freedom to do it (even though i may be disowned or end up in prison for talking a little loudly and disturbing the peace) butits not real freedom cos freedom is doing something and everyone else not stopping you from doing it be it emotionally or physically... and they do do it... so we dont have the freedom to carry out free will....

so i end up not doing what i want even though i have the will, the way and the opportunity, just because i dont have the freedom

what is free will without freedom??

smile =D

Answer 9

The eventual goal is death, each person can choose what they do before that, that is free will. We have the facilities to make choices and we choose to base these choices on feelings. We have free will in that no person has the right to tell us how to live our lives.

Answer 10

If you want to have the simplest understanding of how free in this world then do a simple experiment: If for instance I ask yo to raise you one leg in the air, that obviously you easily could do, as you are free to do so, but if I ask you raise the other leg at the same time into air, you would not be able to do that because this only how much freedom your physical state of being is able to grant to you.

It is well known that freedom is concept that incorporates responsibility. It depends what type of freedom one is looking for, the nature of responsibility then will be determined accordingly. Freedom in you own body for instance, would required of you to take good care of your health and wellbeing, whereas freedom in a society would would be in abiding by the rules and norms of that society.

When we talk about freedom of human will, or human mind, in the widest context than we need to realize that we are bound into a material existence; that we are subjected to laws of cause and effect. Forces of nature, like gravity, time, climatic conditions etc all apply to us.

Then when we come to talk about human will, of will of human mind, then I can say that if there is will at all then there surely is some use to it. or it has it place in the grand design of things of general nature. It is only human that we have will to do things against the laws of general nature trees for instance would not be able to do anything against their nature. So, yes we have a free will, and a natural capacity to use it according to our free discretion.

Answer 11

my personal opinion is that free will can be excercised in any circumstance in that we can choose how to deal with what life has put in front of us.

we can perceive it as a challenge, take a defeatest attitude, or we can spend a lot of time trying to figure it all out. it's like a lesson in futility, but makes for a very interesting journey.

i have a feeling you would enjoy reading some japanese koans. good exercise for the mind.





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