RE: Do you believe in free will?
March 24, 2012 at 8:44 pm
(This post was last modified: March 24, 2012 at 8:45 pm by R-e-n-n-a-t.)
(March 17, 2012 at 8:04 pm)theVOID Wrote:(March 17, 2012 at 5:25 am)R-e-n-n-a-t Wrote: I agree with you. The idea of a transcendent mind capable of making decisions beyond what genetics and society have caused is impossible. However, since the brain is the person, and the brain causes the action, it's still 'free' for the brain. The real debate should be about the definition of free will, I think. It sounds like most of the people here are getting hung up on the definition rather than the consenus.
How so? Name me one 'action' that any single neuron in the brain can make that isn't a result of an interaction with various other stimuli.
Touche. However, if you read my original post you'll see that I did specify that external stimuli mixed with genetics decide what action the brain takes. I'm not interested in clinging to the idea of free will, but I am interested in pointing out that I merely consider free will to be "the ability for my brain to make decisions that align with what external forces make most plausible". In short, I could care less whether we actually have 'free will' as most people define it, since it's certain that even if we do not, it would make no difference. We'll still end up saying and thinking the same things either way, whether I call it free will or not.
