Do we have Free Will or are we completely determined?

For the first time I believe I have complete free will.

we do have free will and if u would like to hear a great theory of that read a clock work orange

Shouldn't this be in Religion? and yes we have free will.

Its a philosophic topic because it was in my philosophy text book lol.

Then you sir aren't very smart. They like to make us think we have free will, but everything is determined by how much money you make.

I am completely determined to have free will.

Why on earth should this be in Religion? ...weird.

You are soooo down to earth and materialistic. So body I.D.

"THEY" of course is the shadow government infiltrated by aliens who intend to make all humans into either their slaves or their next meal.

DO you live in a society? Do you adhere to anothers 'laws'? Do you get paid a wage, pay taxes... buy food and services from others?


free will, huh?


Would you decide to not participate in society? Live off the grid, out of the loop, independent from society?

That would be exercising free will..

What do you think free will is? Do you think free will is the ability to do whatever you want without consequences? If so, that is not what free will is at all.

Whether or not we adhere to others laws of society is not use of free will either. The will is always free. It is the power to direct our attention and thoughts to something ---or not. It is the power of self direction. It is the power of self mastery. It has little to do with environment or society or the laws of society.

Yes we have will. It is always free. It can be weak or strong but it is always there, and always free.

It depends upon your definition of free will. I feel that I exert my free will all the time. Free will to me means that within given limits, laws mainly, I live free and unencumbered.

Aye, there's the rub.

When I speak of "free will" I mean the opposite of "determinism". Determinism is defined as (abridged) the doctrine that everything is the inevitable result of what came before it." And "ineveitable" means "impossible to change".

So to me, free will simply means that my decisions are not inevitable. I can make a decision, and I can change that decision.

But the most concise and conclusive demonstration of free will is not in actually changing one's mind, but in considering changing one's mind.

Yes, reflection. To be able to consider consequences before acting, instead of reacting.

Free will is the ability to make choices -- based on the external conditions.

Sound like an oxymoron - or denial of determinism?
Perhaps free will is the ability to deny determinism!

Hmmm.....

I can interpret that last statement a couple different ways. One being a "head in the sand" refusal to accept the idea of determinism. The other being an ability to proactively override determinism.

I prefer the latter interpretation.

But your first statement makes me think of an even better way to express my view...

Free will is the ability to conceive of choices (options).

Not to split hairs (but of course I'm about to), I think of free will as will that exists in an open system rather than a closed one. I think of the conception of choices and the expression of them as abilities implied by free will.

both''''we are given choices and each choice brings new choices all predetermined ..you will just get a headache trust me

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Care to elaborate on your conclusion?

Where there's a will ....

There's a host of grieving relatives

to me free will is the power to choose in any direction i want.with or against the laws of man or god.with the knowledge that there will be repocutions to my actions.in every thing i do.free will is just that.not a philosophy,not an emotion.its all that.its is the very thing that has helped and destroyed man kid.do i drop the bomb or dont i?free will makes that chioce.do i go to work today or dont i?free will.its the very thing that gives us the ability to make chioces against our beter judgment.in all aspecs of life.with out it we would be mindless people doing everything the goverment tells us with out argument.the rpoblem i see as of late is people are giving up that free will and letting others dictate the out come of things.as the laws of man confide us to our homes.the world out side is being left alone.think about it.just an oppinion