RE: Do you believe in free will?
September 6, 2010 at 10:42 pm
(This post was last modified: September 6, 2010 at 10:48 pm by Oldandeasilyconfused.)
Another recovering Catholic here, I also left the church at age 20. Finally reached the inevitable and involuntary conclusion of atheism in my 40's. I'm 63 next month.
Free will? I don't know.I usually feel as if if I'm exercising free will in the choices I seem to make .
Looking back,I'm increasingly convinced that free will is almost if not entirely an illusion and that we virtually never make informed choices about anything.
Looking at the choices I've made over a lifetime, I'm convinced I was incapable of making any choices other than those I made.They were almost invariably based on perceived self interest. Many were wrong decisions, using that criterium. My view was reinforced a week ago,when I had an unpleasant experience ,and had what I now see as a grossly irrational over reaction.It was Pavlovian, I'm still suffering and feel ridiculous. (discussed ad nauseum in my off topic thread 'basket case rant')
My my view is a form of 'psychological determinism' and makes perfect sense to me on an intellectual level;philosophically, I'm also an egoist. On an emotional level,it makes no sense at all.My humanity ,sense of self and view of the world are based on the 'self evident truth' that I have free will .I. refuse to see myself as victim,hold myself responsible for my actions and others responsible for theirs.(including drunk/drugged-up drivers) If there is no free will,that is an invalid position. I also think any existence of an omniscient supreme being invalidates free will.
Free will? I don't know.I usually feel as if if I'm exercising free will in the choices I seem to make .
Looking back,I'm increasingly convinced that free will is almost if not entirely an illusion and that we virtually never make informed choices about anything.
Looking at the choices I've made over a lifetime, I'm convinced I was incapable of making any choices other than those I made.They were almost invariably based on perceived self interest. Many were wrong decisions, using that criterium. My view was reinforced a week ago,when I had an unpleasant experience ,and had what I now see as a grossly irrational over reaction.It was Pavlovian, I'm still suffering and feel ridiculous. (discussed ad nauseum in my off topic thread 'basket case rant')
My my view is a form of 'psychological determinism' and makes perfect sense to me on an intellectual level;philosophically, I'm also an egoist. On an emotional level,it makes no sense at all.My humanity ,sense of self and view of the world are based on the 'self evident truth' that I have free will .I. refuse to see myself as victim,hold myself responsible for my actions and others responsible for theirs.(including drunk/drugged-up drivers) If there is no free will,that is an invalid position. I also think any existence of an omniscient supreme being invalidates free will.
