That's not my definition of free will. I define it as the ability or discretion to choose. In my opinion animals can mimic, learn and imitate, possibly even reason. They learn and act yes, but do they choose? Can they choose something other than their nature? If they can then they have freewill if they can't they don't. I havne't really studied it enough to make a decision.
As far as the mentally ill, if they are ill to where they have no choice at any time, then they would also be exempt from having free will. Those without free will (animals or humans) would be insutments of God or the devil and in no control of their decisions. However here in the physical world we punish based off of action, so animals (human or otherwise) can be justly punished for their actions.
As far as the mentally ill, if they are ill to where they have no choice at any time, then they would also be exempt from having free will. Those without free will (animals or humans) would be insutments of God or the devil and in no control of their decisions. However here in the physical world we punish based off of action, so animals (human or otherwise) can be justly punished for their actions.
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
