Do you have Free Will?

Well, I'm a Christian, so I figure if I *didn't* have free will I'd be a *much* better Christian......[]

True free will does not exist. 
 
Each person is the sum of their experiences and those experiences colour their perspectives.  Part of those experiences are the learned wisdom and teachings of those that preceded them. 
 
Therefore the choices that one makes are not choices of free will, but rather the appearance of free will which is based entirely upon one's perspective.

LOL Xerxes... you spoiled this thread way too early [8D]
That's my position as well. []

Yes, I absolutely do!





Wait ... lemme think ....




Hang on, lemme go ask ...

[]Thought I would add in some Quotes on the topic by one of my favorite author's.. Ayn Rand:  
 
 
 
Man is a being with free will; therefore, each man is potentially good or evil, and it's up to him and only him (through his reasoning mind) to decide which he wants to be.
 
 
Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.
 
 
I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.
 

ORIGINAL: Xerxes

True free will does not exist. 

Each person is the sum of their experiences and those experiences colour their perspectives.  Part of those experiences are the learned wisdom and teachings of those that preceded them. 

Therefore the choices that one makes are not choices of free will, but rather the appearance of free will which is based entirely upon one's perspective.

You ALWAYS have a choice.  If all we are is a sum of our experiences, then those that have been sexually abused and grow up to abuse children should not be held accountable for their actions, as most psycologists agree that there is a very high likelyhood that the abused will grow up to be abusers.  They are though--and rightfully so.

Yes, this is the problem with the no-free-will argument. If we truly have no free will, how can anyone possibly be held accountable for their actions?
Our entire justice system relies on the fact that we do. Yet I am convinced that we don't [8D] lol.

ETA: A very basic argument against free will:

It must be true that either
a) our actions are determined (something makes it happen), or
b) our actions are random, or
c) a combination of the two.

None of these possibilities are acts of free will.

ORIGINAL: sierra2002

Yes, this is the problem with the no-free-will argument. If we truly have no free will, how can anyone possibly be held accountable for their actions?
Our entire justice system relies on the fact that we do. Yet I am convinced that we don't [8D] lol.

ETA: A very basic argument against free will:

It must be true that either
a) our actions are determined (something makes it happen), or
b) our actions are random, or
c) a combination of the two.

None of these possibilities are acts of free will.

Well, if people cannot help what they do, then should Micheal Vick be punished?

determined - when?
 
 
a) now
b) at the beginning of time
c) never
d) none of the above

a) our actions are determined (something makes it happen),

 
I don't really understand this one.  What is an example of "something makes it happen"?  I think of very few things as involuntary or not of free will.  Even if someone holds a gun to your head and threatens to kill you, you still have choices, albeit not always very good ones.  I can't explain how I *know* I have free will, but I absolutely believe I do and hold myself accountable for everything I do.

Sally, there is a large distinction between Free Will and Accountability or Responsibility for one's actions. 
 
Probability of an outcome does not influence the outcome, which, according to your argument, it does.  If I flip a coin 100 times and it lands on heads 100 times in a row, the 101st time I throw the coin, the probability that it lands on tails is still 1/2 or 50%.
 
There is such a thing as right and wrong, but IMO Free Will is not dependent upon right and wrong.  And sometimes the outcome of events is in direct contrast to the choice that one would normally have made.  Blame it on serendipity, blame it on circumstance, blame it on whatever-I don't think Free Will plays a role at all.

this is soooooo funny because last night while taking a shower i had an idea for a story (yeah my ideas always hit me when i am farthest away from a pen and paper)

i think if you look at it from a Christian perspective along the lines of comparing people to sheep and God to the shepherd then yes you do have free will.... sort of.
in that area of the world and back then.. sheep were free to graze and wander the land as long as they stayed with the flock. if they did choose to wander off alone then they were um... eaten.
i think the context is "Yes you have free will and the right to use it, but you will also suffer the consequences of those choices."
you might say the same for feral dogs. they have free will to wander all over the place, pee on what ever they want, but if they get caught in the act of raiding a chicken coop or if they bite a person then they suffer those consequenses.

and as for advice and others experiences... you have the free will to listen and NOT pay heed.
AND on the notion of sexually abused becoming sexual abusers... i was abused twice in my life and i'm not a pervert.....
my husband was abused at the age of 10 by the scout master and HE is not a pervert.
both of my sisters were also abused (by the same person that got to me) and neither one of them are perverts... though one of my sisters is totally withdrawn and feels truck loads of self loathing and 0 self esteem....

i think you have the choice to be a product of your environment OR to be a product of the choices you make. it all has to do with mental discipline and how strong your mind is...... i do believe there are more weak minds than strong ones.... which is why we have fashion and themes and the word "Cool" as well as pack mentality when we're with friends.
as a kid i never did what i was told by the adults... but i also never got into trouble by looking for acceptance from the cool kids.
i only cleaned my room when i felt like it, and i never did drugs or stole anything (except the one time i stole bubble gum when i was like... five..)
i have a family full of law enforcement and i know a LOT of tricks on how to not get caught. i've had oppertunities to get away with murder... but i didnt give in to those things just so i could profit... i just didnt care. by not caring about anything you are exorcising your free will. well.... i like to think that's free will.

ORIGINAL: Xerxes
IMO Free Will is not dependent upon right and wrong. And sometimes the outcome of events is in direct contrast to the choice that one would normally have made.

I agree. And also that will is never free, there's always a cost ... exercising will, acting in the world, always produces an outcome.

Perhaps we exercise the most "free will" when we become most clear about which actions produce which outcomes, and act deliberately from there.

It might be worthwhile to discuss what will is to begin with. How does it fit within instinct, impulse, desire, social learning, and belief.

It might be worthwhile to discuss what will is to begin with. How does it fit within instinct, impulse, desire, social learning, and belief.

i forgot to ask that lol
what exactly constitutes as free will?