RE: Free will?
March 11, 2014 at 3:20 pm
(This post was last modified: March 11, 2014 at 3:21 pm by Jovanian Teapot.)
(March 11, 2014 at 2:44 am)Wyrd of Gawd Wrote:(February 11, 2014 at 9:47 am)Esquilax Wrote: Hey Sword, could you do me a solid and actually research what you're talking about sufficient to understand it before you comment, rather than just deciding you know more about it than the people who have studied it?
That's a great example of not having free will. If Sword does as commanded then he doesn't have free will because he isn't able to resist doing what you commanded him to do. So he won't have any free will as far as him being able to resist your orders.
I disagree completely. Sword doing what he is told does not in any way show a lack of free will. In this situation, he(she?) has two choices: to research, or not to research. Now, assuming that complying with a suggestion indicates a lack of free will is ridiculous. If i said "No sword, do not do your own research", then, based on your idea "If Sword does as commanded then he doesnt have free will", Sword would be left with exactly ZERO ways that he could exert his free will. Please explain if i have misunderstood.
I define free will as follows: The ability to act in a way that is inconsistent with one's life experiences and/or genetic dispositions. Defined this way, i don't see how free will can even exist. So, i agree with you that free will is not a factor in decision making. I just dont agree with the reasoning
"I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are"-Mewtwo
“We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” - Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”- Voltaire
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” -Epicurus
“We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” - Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”- Voltaire
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” -Epicurus
