Is there free will?

And does your opinion on free will help you navigate your life or impede you?

Personally, I don't understand how free will can exist. I'm voting no, for now. It seems like my motives just pop out from my mind and dictate behavior. This makes me feel powerless like I have no say. However, it also makes me feel relieved ... like I'm just taking a ride at a fair and might as well enjoy the experience rather than trying to steer.

 

Social constraints impedes us from doing embarrassing or even evil things. However, we choose to take naps in the middle of the day right? Isn't that a choice? We don't necessarily need it nor does anyone forces us to sleep in the middle of the day but we choose to because we want to. Yes, there are times that we nap or take any action that forces us to do that but it doesn't mean that ALL things that we do are forced or influenced by something that we cannot control.

 

I believe internal free will exists. I am responsible for the choices I make in life which and those are the results of free will. It does help me navigate as I (speculating here) analyse potential outcomes to a larger extent than I would if I was just riding the rollercoaster. Does that make sense?

 

This is an interesting question.

I think the discussion should revolve more around whether or not we live in a completely deterministic universe - are we able to make our own choices, free of any outside influences, or is every decision and action predetermined by our past experiences?

There are a few schools of thought on this - I tend to fall into the “free will compatible with a somewhat deterministic universe” group. This might seems like a boring, meet in the middle opinion, but I think it makes the most sense. I do think we are able to make our own choices, but I believe the options available to us have been determined by our past events and influences.

Essentially, I do believe in free will. I do not think there is a sufficient argument to definitively state that free will does NOT exist


Man can do what he wills, but he cannot will what he wills
- Arthur Schopenhauer

 

If one cannot will what they will, then isn't that will constrained? Is Arthur's statement in contradiction to free will?

 

Decisions come down to patterns of neurons firing, which comes down to a matter of chemistry, which comes down to the laws of physics.

No.

 

Just like how you had the free will to make this post you have the free will to do many things.

 

You're presupposing that they had the free will to make this post.

 

correct @Shredderbeam

 

Yes I agree their is free will.

 

I think people have free will but they are influenced by others heavily.

 

Free will doesn't exist, ultimately we can't do whatever we want without consequences. Which therefore nullifies the basis of free will. That's my take on it at least, you can do whatever you want, but not without a negative to it.

 

Just because there is a negative to something doesn't take away that it is still free will. I can choose to rob a bank or not rob a bank. No matter what my choice is I still had free will to decide. Just my opinion. You know what they say about opinions.

 

@Slice From that perspective, it becomes the theory of probability.

I feel I am a purple elephant but what are the chances of that?

 

Zero chance, they dont make keyboards big enough for elephants. Therefore, you are not an elephant.

 

I put yes because it is our free will to think we have free will, but we don't have free will, so it should be no, but is that my free will making the answer no? If so, then I am keeping my response yes, but was that the decision from the start?

 

I'm not sure. It's likely that every action arises due to the flow of physical mechanics, but from our conscious point of view, we still have free view of action.

 

I found the term fitting for what I believe, that free will and determinism can work in conjunction.
Compatibilism - Wikipedia

 

Yes I agree their is free will.