Free will is an illusion

[GodlessGirl]

Even atheists struggle with the fact that free will is an illusion because so much of our human lives depends on our viewing one another as conscious agents capable of free choice. Our behavior is the result of physical processes in the brain.

[Kayenneh]

Yes, yes, in the end we all are slaves to the very particles we are made of. What of it? All I ask for is the ability to chose if I want to eat a steak or fish, what book I should read next or do I want to wake up at 6:00 am or 7:00. Do we need more than that and what's the fuss about?

[GodlessGirl]

Yes, yes, in the end we all are slaves to the very particles we are made of. What of it? All I ask for is the ability to chose if I want to eat a steak or fish, what book I should read next or do I want to wake up at 6:00 am or 7:00. Do we need more than that and what's the fuss about?

But you don't have the ability to chose. You only think you do. Our belief in choice arises from our moment to moment ignorance of specific prior causes.

[Kayenneh]

But you don't have the ability to chose. You only think you do. Our belief in choice arises from our moment to moment ignorance of specific prior causes.

Riiight.. So when you made two threads about this topic and decided to put it in the shoutbox, it wasn't really your choice, but you had to do so, because cosmic/atomic forces forced you to do so?

[GodlessGirl]

You are starting to understand

[frankiej]

[Whateverist]

You are starting to understand

What would have been the evolutionary point of understanding if it has no bearing on our actions?

[Tempus]

Basically the same view I have. It's like a random roll of the die - it's not really random. If, while the die were in mid air, you could know it's direction, spin, speed, etc, all the conditions of the environment and the surface it has been rolled on you'd be able to predict what number would turn up. The difficulty involved in doing so, however, renders that impractical (though in principle possible) and thus appears random. I don't see why humans, having evolved from non-sentient life, would be exempt from this. If it's true there's no freewill it's kind of a big deal, I think. It's certainly changed the way I view the justice system, for example.

The way people react to determinism (or any conclusion they reach really) is a reflection of their own life. Some people who are depressed adopt a "why bother if the future is inevitable?" view, while others who are already enjoying life take it in their stride and/or are indifferent - that's been my own observation anyway.

[Faith No More]

Even atheists struggle with the fact that free will is an illusion because so much of our human lives depends on our viewing one another as conscious agents capable of free choice. Our behavior is the result of physical processes in the brain.

That is truly some in-depth analysis.

[Angrboda]

I'm waiting patiently to hear the Law & Order "gong."