Speaker Geeks! discussion

both.

I agree that it's a mix. We're animals and we have instincts and reflexes. In any situation we're free to decide what to do, but those instincts make us more likely to do one thing versus some other action.

I'd say who we are is a choice we make as a result of our circumstances.

I think it may depend on the definition of "free". What do you think should be the definition of "free will" or "choice"?

No, there's no such thing. But there is always a choice, even when it's to keep alive or just let go. What actually exists is Cause/Consequence.

I think many ppl argue against the existence of free will because they think that since all our thoughts and actions are determined by our genes as well as the environment, and if something we do is the inevitable consequence of factors we can not control we can't say we do it freely, we don't have free will.

It totally depends on what we call "free will". But personally, I don't think we have free will. We are restricted by law and 3 million years of evolution. For example, conformity. We're governed by the need to conform, as it is a survival instinct. I'm sure I'd like to do some things that I will never do. But, if we did have complete free will, the world will be chaos. Greed will take over and the world will fall pieces.

If we do not have free will & everything we do is governed by stuff we can't control, are we still morally responsible for our actions?

For one of my E.P modules it was the problem of Evil. It was either Irenaeus or Augustine who said that (in the defence of God for Evil being present) that we were all given free will so some of us could disobey. While I disagree with a lot of what they said I agreed with the part that we were all given free will. Some used that free will to do good and some to do evil.

I do believe in free will. The problem is what we do is being governed. We could do something that we see is in our free will that is frowned upon by another (usually a position of power) that will decide whether our actions are good or bad and whether they need punishment or rewarding.

Evan wrote: "For one of my E.P modules it was the problem of Evil. It was either Irenaeus or Augustine who said that (in the defence of God for Evil being present) that we were all given free will so some of us..."

How do you decide if someone or something has free will? Do you think non-human animals also have free will? What about plants?

I think animals do have free will. However they have a more naturalistic vibe within themselves that means they act the way they do.

Evan wrote: "I think animals do have free will. However they have a more naturalistic vibe within themselves that means they act the way they do."

H99 wrote: "Evan wrote: "I think animals do have free will. However they have a more naturalistic vibe within themselves that means they act the way they do."

They have free will unless they're captured by us..."

So do choanoflagellates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choanofl...) have free will? Also, do we lose our free will if we're imprisoned or unconscious?

I'd say yes they do have. When people are unconsious their mind is sleeping so they don't lose free will it's still there. Those who go to prison they used their free will wrong, they chose the wrong path. Once again I will say they don't lose it, it's still there. It is always there but in prison it would be constrained.

We think we have free will until we are left with no choice but one.

Very very few people have free will- the power to override all norms ad conventions they know and choose based only on instinct.
Education in itself would destroy free will because knowledge is inherently biased and is sure to change your behavior
Is it bad? Probably not. But we are ALL a product of life and learning.

How can we tell which decisions are made on instinct and which are based on norms & conventions?

I don't think free will exists because of the way our minds are moulded right from birth. Our views are dictated by society, family, friends etc. and our minds are essentially hardly our own. Every choice we make is not truly our own. When choosing a career we tend to pick one that's 'realistic' rather than what we are passionate for. And then poorer people have even more limitations on their life. I don't think we have freedom, our every action and thought is dictated in some way.

Nope

I think most ppl agree that there are a lot of things we can't control, however they disagree on whether or not we can "control" anything at all. How can you tell if a certain object, e.g. yourself, has free will? What do people really mean when they say "I have free will" or "I don't have free will"?

Personally I think "free will", like "self" or "individuality", do exist, but only as a social construct. In other words, the concept of "free will" per se without a social/cultural context is meaningless because all of our behaviors are consequences of a multitude of factors & there is no clear or objective way to tell which factors are "circumstances" and which are "our own choices". However, in human societies we invented the concept of "free will" to conceptualize & facilitate interaction & cooperation, and to assign agency as well as responsibility to members of the society. In a sense "free will" is nothing but an illusion, but it is also a useful illusion necessary to make our society work.

H99 wrote: "Somnambulist wrote: "Nope"

Okay, let's try this again:

Does free will exist? Do we have the freedom to choose who we are? Or are we dictated by other circumstances? WHY?"

^^^What Xdjy said....(and very well said!)

Xdyj wrote: "Personally I think "free will", like "self" or "individuality", do exist, but only as a social construct. In other words, the concept of "free will" per se without a social/cultural context is mean..."

My thoughts exactly!