"Conditional Free Will": Can a Psychology of Freedom Be Combined With a Sociobiological Perspective?

[effrenata]

Here is an excerpt from an article titled Biological Perspectives in Criminality. Although the article is focused on crime, I find its analysis of biology and personal freedom quite relevant to human life in general

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[arrowstar74]

Greetings. I'm a bit new to LJ, and I'm still browsing around through a lot of communities. But I have to say that something here has intrigued me.
While the article was interesting in looking at our decision-making processes from a unique perspective, I believe your quote sums it up perfectly.

"We are only as free as we can imagine ourselves being."

That's worthy of at least a bumper sticker, I think. It brings to mind that each of us has a different set of circumstances that led up to where we are now -- and a different set of circumstances that we currently face. But our ability to see through obstacles differs. While one person may view a particular handicap as a limitation, another may view the same as a challenge or an opportunity.
No telling how much our abilities to "imagine" alternative decisions is based on our environment or our predisposition.
Kind of brings back the old nature vs. nurture question for me. The article seems to hint at that as well describing the "preset, yet to some degree changeable, range of possibilities".
Not sure if this a bit of a ramble, but you defintely got my mind moving. Thankyou.
Erik