Does free will exist?

[The Engineer]

In what way is the way the brain works predetermined?

Neural pathways may be changing over time, but they don't do so randomly, but according to a multitude of factors. How your brain, and hence your mind, looks like at any given point is predetermined by those factors.

There could have been a million other outcomes; she could have chosen to leave the pen alone or pick up another one

If the input and the equation (her neural circuits) stay the same, the outcome will also always stay the same.

 

[Paradoxum]

The conclusion of my answer is that the question in the OP is a wrong question.

Sorry, why did you say it was a wrong question? I didn't get what you meant before.

That is why people don't have a agreeable answer to it.

I think people don't agree because there are various reasons people are biased about whether we are free or not.

 

[juvenissun]

Sorry, why did you say it was a wrong question? I didn't get what you meant before.



I think people don't agree because there are various reasons people are biased about whether we are free or not.

Because there is no good definition on what the free will is. So people simply make up their own definition. When the definition is different, the answer will be different.

 

[juvenissun]

I said "...free to exercise your will".

Do you mean "free will"?

 

[quatona]

Do you mean "free will"?

No, I mean "free exercise of a (possibly) not free will", as the poster described it.

 

[The Engineer]

Because there is no good definition on what the free will is.

There are several consistent definitions out there.

So people simply make up their own definition. When the definition is different, the answer will be different.

That's why I wrote the following:

Do you think free will exists? If so, which form of free will do you believe in?

I explicitly asked you to clarify what definition of free will you believe in, or which definition you think is the best one.

Do you mean "free will"?

No, he didn't. Being free to exercise your will is different from having a free will.

 

[Paradoxum]

Because there is no good definition on what the free will is. So people simply make up their own definition. When the definition is different, the answer will be different.

Well generally the definition is included in the answer. So the question isn't only 'are we free', but also 'what does it mean to have a free will'.

 

[juvenissun]

Well generally the definition is included in the answer. So the question isn't only 'are we free', but also 'what does it mean to have a free will'.

We should answer the second one before answering the first one.

 

[juvenissun]

No, I mean "free exercise of a (possibly) not free will", as the poster described it.

If it were not a free will, how could you exercise it freely?

You WILL die. But you can choose to live or to die. Does it make sense?

 

[The Engineer]

We should answer the second one before answering the first one.

Then I suggest you start answering the second one.

 

[juvenissun]

Then I suggest you start answering the second one.

You make a guess: will I choose to do it or not to do it?
Am I free to do that?

 

[The Engineer]

You make a guess: will I choose to do it or not to do it?

Am I free to do that?

You are free to do that in the sense that no external factors prevent you from doing it. You are not free in the sense that your willingness or unwillingness to do it is already predetermined.

By the way, will you please stop evading my question?

 

[quatona]

If it were not a free will, how could you exercise it freely?

In that what you will is not freely chosen but determined.

You WILL die. But you can choose to live or to die. Does it make sense?

No.

 

[brightlights]

It would depend on what the OP means by "free will".

 

[The Engineer]

It would depend on what the OP means by "free will".

Don't focus too much on the poll. The poll is merely about what you would consider your view to be, regardless of the definition of free will that you assume. If you can't reduce your view like that, that's okay, though.

There's not a single definition of free will that I wanted to discuss in this topic. You can discuss whichever definition you want to discuss.

 

[jpcedotal]

I freely voted on this poll

 

[juvenissun]

In that what you will is not freely chosen but determined.


No.

I should choose this. But I like to choose that to see what will happen.

Is my choice determined?

If there were 100 such cases, what % of my choice is determined?

 

[juvenissun]

You are free to do that in the sense that no external factors prevent you from doing it. You are not free in the sense that your willingness or unwillingness to do it is already predetermined.

By the way, will you please stop evading my question?

So you think my answer to your question is predetermined?

 

[eckhart]

To those who were posting on free will of their actions and choosing to exercise freely etc. theres a good theory and example from John Locke.
Theres two friends in a room, one of the friends decides of his own free will to stay in the room to talk to the other. While they're talking the door of this room has been locked without the friend knowing. this example prooves that the friend stays in the room to talk, freely, although it is false that he could have done otherwise, if he has chosen.
For the friend to perform an action of their own free will, there is no way they could of performed some other action if they had wanted to.
You can choose to perform actions freely even though you aren't able to to act freely in another way.
The example is "Locke's Locked Room", I liked the explanation of what the process lying behind the free actions must be like.

 

[Danyc]

So you think my answer to your question is predetermined?

Yes, it is.