Free will

[Shredderbeam]

Are people truly free to choose what they do, or does it just seem to be that way?

Is the mind based purely on the physical attributes of the brain, or is there something more, an irreducible something that some would call a soul? If the mind is purely physical, then our thoughts emerge from the interactions of particles, more or less. These are determined, and do not have ambiguity (running two simulations of the universe side-by-side will yield the exact same results).

Discuss, etc.

 

Based on the evidence of the senses the mind is a material construct of brain issue. As for free will; we know we have it, we know others have it, and we know each person is unique and individual. Working from both ends we can conclude that free will is some sort of real / physical process. We have yet to understand that process. When we do we will have A.I. at our fingertips.

 

[Shredderbeam]

I agree with you in that the mind is the sum of the brain

I don't think that free will really exists, though. Certainly, it seems that we have it, and it seems to be the preferable way to live one's life, but I do not see how unthinking particles can form truly free choices.

 

[Mavericks]

And even if one believes in religion, i.e Christianity..God gives us free will to do as we please, but if he already knows the past and the future..aren't we already living in some sort of guidelines.

 

[The Supreme Intelligence]

One actually does have a soul. If one didn't, then one would not just be able to die without any health problems; however, people die naturally without any health problems or complications- how would you explain that?

I believe that everyone has free-will merely because we don't know what the outcome of either choice will be in the long run. If we did, free will would not exist because we would always choose the one that has a better outcome in the long run.

 

[Shredderbeam]

One actually does have a soul. If one didn't, then one would not just be able to die without any health problems; however, people die naturally without any health problems or complications- how would you explain that?

The human body loses its ability to repair itself over time. There are endless explanations - shortening of telomeres, lysosomal junk, etc.

I believe that everyone has free-will merely because we don't know what the outcome of either choice will be in the long run. If we did, free will would not exist because we would always choose the one that has a better outcome in the long run.

That's true. We cannot reasonably know what is going to happen in the future, so people behave as if they had free will. They might not actually have it, though.

 

[rs nechryeal]

One actually does have a soul.

When did the existence of a human soul become scientific fact? You can’t just make something a fact because you want it to be true. There is no question about the validity of evolution. Do not let the word ‘theory’ confuse you. In science, ‘theory’ means fact and is not synonymous with the word ‘hypothesis.’ We have the theories of gravity, flight and relativity just to name a few. Surely you don’t doubt the theory of gravity? If you don’t believe in the theory of evolution it’s because you don’t understand it. Religion, though, is not based on fact, it’s based on faith. Most people have the faith they do because their parents told them what to believe when they were young and they never questioned it, but it needs to be questioned. If believing in something that’s not real helps a person get through the day then so be it, but that does not make it true. I’m not against the good things that sometimes come from religion, like respect for others, helping those in need or the person who wrote about their church group. But again, none of that proves there’s a God. People aren’t good because they’re religious or bad because they’re atheists, people are just good or bad period. You don’t need religion to have morality. After all the bible was written thousands of years ago by people who thought the world was flat! The sooner we abandon the notion that there’s a supernatural being watching over us, reading our minds, helping our kids’ team win, and saving us a parking spot when we’re running late the better off we’ll all be. People need to be accountable for their own actions, and not blame their misfortunes on an imaginary mystical being in the sky.

that was in a newspaper in my state. let it soak in and discuss

 

[The_Ace]

We do have free will, but the brain will control what you do. Your brain controls everything you do so it is really your brain that makes up free will.

 

[Shredderbeam]

We do have free will, but the brain will control what you do. Your brain controls everything you do so it is really your brain that makes up free will.

Yet is the brain not "going" to choose a certain action, from the perspective of an outside observer?

 

[Merchant Millz]

Technically, I could stab every student in my english class.
I choose not to.
That's free will, eh?

 

[Shredderbeam]

It could be stated that that was how you were always going to act.

 

[TJ]

Like my history teacher says, you do everything you do because you want to.

Like if your mom says that you are going to get grounded if you dont clean your room, if you didnt want to get grounded you will clean your room. But if you didnt then nothing is stopping you

 

[jebckr]

Free will exists. A soul is just another name for a conscience in my opinion. Basically, if I want to kill someone I will. If I then decide against it because it seems "like a bad idea" that is me exhibiting free will to decide against my "morals". Nothing more.

 

[Shredderbeam]

Free will exists. A soul is just another name for a conscience in my opinion. Basically, if I want to kill someone I will. If I then decide against it because it seems "like a bad idea" that is me exhibiting free will to decide against my "morals". Nothing more.

Could it not be that you were always going to do that?

 

[jebckr]

Could it not be that you were always going to do that?

But couldn't it be that it was your choice. You can go in circles all day with this one. Like all things it boils down to what you think is most logical.

 

[Kyo]

I'm not sure if I believe in what you would call a "soul". Einstein states that energy never ceases to exist, and it's proven that electric reactions are created in our brains/nervous system. Where does this energy go when we die?

In a more Buddhist outlook, I would assume this energy would go to the "life of ku", or a state of existence between lives. Not necessarily a heaven or hell, because I don't believe in that or a being superior than us. I personally believe we are reincarnated, but I'm sure many of you disagree with that.

As far as free will goes, we are pretty much born with the instinct to know right from wrong. I believe in karma, and what you do will affect what will happen to you in the future. Cause and effect basically.

 

[Shredderbeam]

But couldn't it be that it was your choice. You can go in circles all day with this one. Like all things it boils down to what you think is most logical.

I don't think that it could be your choice, for what is the brain but the sum of its constituent, unthinking, unfeeling parts?

Where does this energy go when we die?

Where does the energy in a power grid go when the grid goes down? Does it form a ghost?

Karma does not exist. Cause and effect does, but that is not the same thing. Good things can and do happen to bad people, and vice-versa.

 

[Kyo]

Where does the energy in a power grid go when the grid goes down? Does it form a ghost?

I would assume it's released out into the atmosphere? I honestly don't know how to answer that question.

Karma does not exist. Cause and effect does, but that is not the same thing. Good things can and do happen to bad people, and vice-versa

It's true that bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, but I believe that this is all directly related to the karma they have created.

what would you consider a "good person?"

Who's to say that the person hasn't done SOMETHING in their life that would created a bad cause?

and vice versa for a "bad person".

 

[Shredderbeam]

I would assume it's released out into the atmosphere? I honestly don't know how to answer that question.

I'm making an analogy between a power grid and the brain. Both run electrical currents about the place, and what happens to the electricity in a brain should be no different than what happens to a power grid's energy.

It's true that bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, but I believe that this is all directly related to the karma they have created.

Unless you believe in the notion of reincarnation (something for which no empirical evidence exists), then karma cannot exist, for people exist who are immoral, and lead full and rich lives.

what would you consider a "good person?"

One who is moral.

Who's to say that the person hasn't done SOMETHING in their life that would created a bad cause?

Now it seems that you're just looking for negative things in their life to justify the bad things that happen to them.

 

[Kyo]

Now it seems that you're just looking for negative things in their life to justify the bad things that happen to them.

That's exactly what Im saying, the negative thing's they've done directly affect the bad things that happen in their life. In my opinion anyways.

Unless you believe in the notion of reincarnation (something for which no empirical evidence exists), then karma cannot exist, for people exist who are immoral, and lead full and rich lives.

Yes, I myself do believe in reincarnation. I know that there's no evidence of it, but it seems like the most logical thing to me, besides just rotting in the ground. Which very well may be what happens.