Is belief in FREE WILL (nondependent choice making) equally as superstitious as belief in God? Why or why not?

Question

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I graduated from college & graduate school LONG ago, so this is not a take home essay question for a philosophy class. It's a legitimate, and I think core, question in making sense of your place in the universe.

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J H: Make your case or refine the definition. Otherwise you're not helping anyone with your answer.

Answer 1

A profound question.

If it is merely superstitious, does that mean "belief" in free will depends on belief in a supernatural, God or gods, magic, or such? Is belief iteself only a capability which can be explained in religious terms? Or can belief be a function of sentience, of self aware language users, regardless of their belief or non belief in the supernatural?

I believe people do actually make choices; they cannot choose impossible things, free will doesn't mean you can fly off the roof by flapping your arms; but it does mean one DOES choose to be law abiding or not, polite or not, etc.

To deny free will entirely, to believe there are NO choices, that this universe is something utterly mechanistic unaffected by choice, is illogical and merely a rationalization to deny responsibility for one's choice and influence on others and the world. It denies physical evidence; denying free will absolutely ultimately is a form of solipsism, because by denying the impact of Others in the face of physical evidence, one ultimately denies the existence of cause and effect.

Denying free will less absolutely is possible, but problematic; at what point and to what extent is anyone or anything nondependent? An infant is not aware of what affects their decision making; an adult is more aware; does these mean an adult has less self determination than an infant? Of course not. Does this mean the more aware one is, the less responsible one is? Of course not. Is utter passivity the most aware mature position? I think not, in a temporal reality; mystically, maybe :)

The Buddha chose to sit. The boddhisatva chooses to vow, and to be in the world. I think free will and growing awareness leads to something beyond superstition, but not beyond belief.

Answer 2

Yeah, perhaps it is. The way many people think of free will, it involves some sort of separation between the physical body and some entity that controls it -- the soul or the mind. But the mind has never been distilled from the body, or physically observed (a lot like God). We just observe the activity of the brain.

Some neuroscientists say that "the mind is what the brain does," which is to say that there is really no distinction between physiological events like the regulation of blood pressure, and mental tasks such as deciding what to eat for lunch. They are both basically chemical reactions inside our bodies.

That said, the idea of free will is a useful concept for everyday life. Otherwise we'd never take responsibility for anything. Belief in God, on the other hand, is not very useful for me.

Answer 3

I think that free will is a necessary assumption in a government that holds individuals responsible for their actions and creates a justice system to deal with members who break the law. Society does allow some wiggle room for the mentally ill or for those who commit murder in the heat of passion (first and second-degree murder are defined by whether or not the crime was of passion, or premeditation).

As for a concept, there is no such thing as completely free will. Each one of us is presented with a limited range of options and choices.

I'm also convinced that genes interact with our environment and influence most behaviors, including a propensity for violence. Call me deterministic. Even reasoning is subject to physical limits. That being said, the term "free will" is a useful concept when looking at what choices that humans do have, however small. At the end of the day, individuals must assume responsibility for their behavior. Being aware of one's limitations allows a person to address them.

Answer 4

Of course it is...

One cannot believe that he can make choices independently and then suffer the consequences of judgment afterward in addition to whatever outcome there was to his choice without effecting limitations on his choices in the first place. The doubled standards may not coincide.

In order for superstition and free will to coincide entirely, the "still-to-come judgment" must be eliminated or free will must be sacrificed. Without removing the threat that judgment poses, there will always be an overtone of "supernatural mysticism, i.e., superstition," that accompanies each and every decision one opts for.... it will be a continuous and immovable obstacle to avoid. One would have to go around every ladder and protect every grain of salt he encountered rather than choosing to act according to his immediate and real circumstances.

Free will and obedience to a supernatural mystic force, like a god, just don't mix very well. You can't have one and still have the other .... unless, of course, you've very, very accomplished at going under and around a ladder all in the same step.

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Answer 5

Yes, perhaps. I always wonder how people can equate "free will" with "Absolute Free Will" (i.e. the freedom to do any thing at any given moment.) It seems obvious to me that at any given moment we are free to choose from a limited range of choices available at that moment. Our choice will be influenced, obviously, by all kinds of factors. But still, there's an element of choice and an element of determinism in everything that we call "life."

Peace to you.

Answer 6

Actually free will and God are contradicting ideas. How can a God give free will and then choose to punish people because they exercise said free will?
Also, if you believe in an omnipotent God, that means you believe that God can take away their free will and control them at his whim. Again, that is not free will.
If you truly believe humans have free will, how can you believe in a omnipotent God who may actually be controlling your will at this very time?

Answer 7

God is real,and free will is to serve God or not,it,s our choice.

Answer 8

never thought about that. i believe in election/predestination according to the first chapter of ephesians.
salvation is a gift from god.

Answer 9

I do not believe in Free Will, I use it.

Answer 10

Mentally ill people do not have free will. Children do not have free will. People dominated by their parents or their culture do not have free will.