Slingshot's Life lessons #137

[Elendra]

In this case we are what's called "victims of circumstance". But our ability to think for ourselves does not change. That's what free will is, thinking for ourselves. Is someone else doing your thinking for you? If not then you act on free will.

Your understanding of free will is flawed.

You do not pick your thoughts

The conditions of existence from ages past dictate your thoughts. As they dictated what happened next. And that what was next. And that what was next. And so on and so forth until now. Your thoughts are simply the reaction of conditions.

[Slingshot]

Look, I agree with what your saying about past events controlling events and decisions. But if it is to be said that because past events effect what we do that there is no free will then the idea of free will in itself is false. But the simple fact of the matter is that it is still you making your decisions and no conscious entity is purposefully or non-purposefully controlling what you think.

As far as we know.

[Elendra]

Look, I agree with what your saying about past events controlling events and decisions. But if it is to be said that because past events effect what we do that there is no free will then the idea of free will in itself is false. But the simple fact of the matter is that it is still you making your decisions and no conscious entity is purposefully or non-purposefully controlling what you think.

As far as we know.

A lack of an entity controlling us does not mean that we have free will.

[Slingshot]

Do you have will?

[Elendra]

Do you have will?

No, but I should work on one in case I die.

Maybe it's a delayed apocalypse.

[Herzinth]

You act according to your own free will. No person/thing/entity is controlling you.

Yes, I do enjoy my predictable chemical reponses AKA free will.

[NatsumeHack]

My will is a solid 18, I more more of it free then you people.

Not to mention the bonuses to it thanks to my gear.

[MorningWood]

You act according to your own free will. No person/thing/entity is controlling you.

According to /pol/, the zionists control everything. But then /pol/ is full of trolls, really...

[NatsumeHack]

STOP POSTING FIGMENTS!

[Jorick]

A simpler way to understand what others are saying here would be "cause and effect." It's possible that everything you think and do is a reaction (effect) to something else that happens (cause) in a completely predictable and unchangeable way.

Your thoughts are electrical currents and chemical reactions in your mind. Your actions are electrical signals sent to your body from your brain, thus thoughts are the only things that actually matter in the context of free will. It is possible that these electric and chemical signals are all only released as effects of direct causes rather than by your choice. It is possible that everything you ever have done and ever will do is a series of reactions. You cannot know for sure because you don't know the intimate inner workings of your brain, you only know what you perceive (which is very untrustworthy as can be observed by asking a dozen witnesses of an event exactly what happened and receiving rather different answers).

Because this is a possibility, that everything you do is reactionary, it's impossible to claim free will as an undeniable fact.