Question: Free Will vs. Determinism

[tracy_d74]

This weekend I watched The Adjustment Bureau (I really liked) and read Across the Universe by Beth Revis  (I really liked). Both stories dealt with the idea of free will. This is a topic I LOVE to think about. (Diyari Chronicles deals with this idea of free will).

I subscribe to the capatibilism viewpoint (see chart below). I think that each of us

Comments

[bogwitch64]

I'm all for random chaos.

[tracy_d74]

i knew you would say that. :)

[a_r_williams]

I believe people create their own destiny. Circumstances and luck do play a role in our lives, but individual determinism and behavior play an important part in the results after that.

One of the lessons for any person to learn is the power they have to control their lives. This isn't always simple based on a host of things: family, friends, environment, culture, and thoughts or self-confidence (all of which can have an impact on how we view the world).

[tracy_d74]

yes, all those things you mention, do influenc our perceptions...thus our actions. our choices lead us to places and opportunities.

[paulwoodlin]

I believe free will requires three things: the introspection to realize why you do what you do, the creativity to come up with a new thing to do, and the strength of will to swim against the current. Not everyone has all three things to the same degree.

And I believe it requires a healthy, well functioning brain. External events can break that brain, which is why we have insanity pleas in court, and why a friend of mine has to take medication to control her temper.

[tracy_d74]

Ah. Good point! Free will does require a level of awareness. Playing devil's advocate here, couldn't one argue that the "insane" person is making choices based on their perceptions and what they believe to be occurring. Thus, they still have a choice in the madness.

With regard to needing the strength to go against the current and introspection...I do believe Adjustment Bureau hit that on the nail. We have free will, but most people will just go with what is presented, never really exercising their choices. But isn't chosing to stay with the status quo...a choice? Just like not making a decision is making a decision.

[paulwoodlin]

Yes, insane people make a choice, but the point is they are incapable of making the right choice.

I'm remembering Aquinas' argument concerning free will vs. astrology. How could you have both in a Christian framework? Aquinas argued that the stars, under God's Guidence, inflame people's passions, and everyone has the choice to listen to them or not, and most people do. Only those who can ignore their passions have free will, but astrology can still predict things like wars because most people don't resist their passions. Of course, that leaves the question of why people would resist God's Plan, which is one of those mysterious little questions that gets left hanging as a matter of faith.

[anabelgonzalez]

I believe in free will and also that we have some abilities that other don't we can use in order to improve that area of knowledge, work, etc or wan can completely ignore them. O 'm still sick s don't know if I'm ecplaining myself correctly

[tracy_d74]

i think you are. you believe that people are free to act, choose in their life...and that we have abilities that we can improve or ignore.

it's kinda what i was saying above. i have the ability to communicate well. i could choose to ignore that skill or i can use it. i can use it to manipulate and score drugs. or i can use it to teach or write. it's up to me. did i get?

get better soon. you're making me nervous with all your illness.

[misha_mcg]

I probably fall in the libertarian category (for the purposes of this chart, not in general). Overall, I would call my thinking on this topic nihilism. I don't see an underlying purpose or meaning to life. I don't believe in any sort of god. I don't think meaning is NECESSARY for life to exist. I think humans must, however, create meaning in their own lives in order to be able to mentally cope with living. I think it's good that we create meaning, but, to keep it in perspective, I look at it as just that - OUR creation, not something that exists in and of itself independently of human minds.

[tracy_d74]

i see what you're saying. our purpose is something we construct in order to survive? is that right? i think that was one of the points in across the universe. the leader of the ship made the decisions he made so the people would create a purpose...they would fight to live.

well, i am defininetly a person who believes i have a purpose. i just think my purpose is not as narrow as some say it is. it't not about being a doctor so i can save lives. i can save lives and never do surgery.

[misha_mcg]

Yes, that was the point I was making, that we construct purpose in order to survive.