Free Will
Assume my argument to be thus:
All the things that any given person does are governed by the choices that individual makes, to the point that willpower is able to overcome any predisposition to a certain action that either genetics or the environment might impose. Essentially, while we do have basic human instinct and behavior patterns inherited from our forbears, those tendencies are nothing in the face of pure desire to be the person any individual chooses to be. This is not a discussion of talent or aptitude for certain things. This purely deals with negative personality aspects or detrimental actions that people frequently claim are part of their makeup.
Example: From observation of my Father, Uncle, and Grandfather, as well as my own internalized reactions to various things, it is reasonable to say that moodiness and a short temper run in my family. For a long time, I pandered to that tendency. I was frequently angry for long periods of time, chronically. I snapped at people and was sarcastic for the majority of the day. Other times I became severely depressed and basically shut myself off from anyone who might condescend enough to ask me "What's wrong?" I thought it my right to act that way because it was how I felt naturally. At some point, I realized how detrimental this was to my relationships with people I care about. I decided to cut the crap, and since then have had much fewer problems. I now have some friends who quite honestly do not believe that I ever get angry. Some call me one of the calmest and most emotionally stable people they know.
Essentially, the matter at stake here is that I tire of people excusing themselves with hollow sayings akin to "That's just the way I am. Deal with it." I argue that we are who we choose to be, not who we were "made to be". Genetics and environmental influences are all fine and good, but in the end our choices determine our identity. People who say otherwise are simply not willing to believe that they possess sufficient willpower to act how they choose because it is easier to give in to our basic tendencies.
Discuss. Counter-examples are welcomed. Well supported criticism is encouraged.
I submitted the above to a forum a while back and got some very interesting answers. I was curious what you all think. Let me know, if you have the time :)
All the things that any given person does are governed by the choices that individual makes, to the point that willpower is able to overcome any predisposition to a certain action that either genetics or the environment might impose. Essentially, while we do have basic human instinct and behavior patterns inherited from our forbears, those tendencies are nothing in the face of pure desire to be the person any individual chooses to be. This is not a discussion of talent or aptitude for certain things. This purely deals with negative personality aspects or detrimental actions that people frequently claim are part of their makeup.
Example: From observation of my Father, Uncle, and Grandfather, as well as my own internalized reactions to various things, it is reasonable to say that moodiness and a short temper run in my family. For a long time, I pandered to that tendency. I was frequently angry for long periods of time, chronically. I snapped at people and was sarcastic for the majority of the day. Other times I became severely depressed and basically shut myself off from anyone who might condescend enough to ask me "What's wrong?" I thought it my right to act that way because it was how I felt naturally. At some point, I realized how detrimental this was to my relationships with people I care about. I decided to cut the crap, and since then have had much fewer problems. I now have some friends who quite honestly do not believe that I ever get angry. Some call me one of the calmest and most emotionally stable people they know.
Essentially, the matter at stake here is that I tire of people excusing themselves with hollow sayings akin to "That's just the way I am. Deal with it." I argue that we are who we choose to be, not who we were "made to be". Genetics and environmental influences are all fine and good, but in the end our choices determine our identity. People who say otherwise are simply not willing to believe that they possess sufficient willpower to act how they choose because it is easier to give in to our basic tendencies.
Discuss. Counter-examples are welcomed. Well supported criticism is encouraged.
I submitted the above to a forum a while back and got some very interesting answers. I was curious what you all think. Let me know, if you have the time :)