Do Human Beings have free will?

Discussion in 'Politics & Religion' started by Ephemeral, Feb 26, 2007.

  1. #1
    Let's here it. Do we have free will? Or is all our actions predetermined, the result of circumstances, genetics and various other factors?

    What's your opinion, and why?
     
    Ephemeral, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #2
    If our actions are predetermined then what is the point of living. We have free will. Our history proves that to the nth degree. Also, according to the Bible we have free will. It says so in many places.

    Col :)
     
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  3. pingpong123

    pingpong123 Well-Known Member

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    #3
    FREE WILL ALL THE WAY!!!! We can choose to live in peace and love each other or destroy each other. The question is does fox news wants us to have free will lolololol
     
    pingpong123, Feb 26, 2007 IP
  4. scart3r

    scart3r Notable Member

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    #4
    We have free will, but I think that genetics play a part.

    I think that it's only to a point though. Where you live, how you were raised etc play a part, but the final choice is up to you.
     
    scart3r, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #5
    ROFL. Fox news can actually change direction of our lives. All they have to do is turn the cameras on us as individuals and just watch us disintegrate..:D

    Col :)
     
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  6. KalvinB

    KalvinB Peon

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    #6
    Predetermination has nothing to do with making choices.

    We only appear to have free will because nobody knows anybody, including themselves, well enough to know what decisions they will make ahead of time if it were even possible to know all the variables in the situation.

    As soon as you can run off a cliff and not fall you can let us know how much free will you have. As soon as you can tell a CEO you're hired then you can tell us how much free will you have.
     
    KalvinB, Feb 26, 2007 IP
  7. Ephemeral

    Ephemeral Peon

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    #7
    This is right on. I personally contend that we don't have free will, as described in this thread: http://philosophy-forums.com/index.php?topic=58.0.
     
    Ephemeral, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #8
    This is hardly relevant to the OP. I know what you mean by what you say. The OP is really asking if our lives are already mapped out for us. That's all. We are not talking about us having supernatural powers when we run off a cliff. ROFL :D

    Col :)
     
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  9. firewolf08

    firewolf08 Peon

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    #9
    Actually none of us have free will because we are all slaves...to time.
     
    firewolf08, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #10

    hehehehe.. Too true. There ain't no slowing down that one.

    Col :)
     
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  11. KalvinB

    KalvinB Peon

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    #11
    The point is we're restrained by forces out of our control.

    If you could control gravity then you would be better able to do what you want. As it is, gravity restricts your free will. It predetermines that you'll fall if you run off the cliff.
     
    KalvinB, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #12
    That's not anything to do with free will but everything to do with fact and logic...:D

    Col :)
     
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  13. JonnoFM

    JonnoFM Peon

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    #13
    Personally, I believe the universe in its entirety to be nothing more than the result of an unfathomably complex chain reaction initiated at the point of the Big Bang. Accepting a standpoint of cause and effect, all is then predetermined including actions taken by myself and so my sense free will is then illusory. Bummer. :(
     
    JonnoFM, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #14
    So, what caused the Big Bang?

    Col :)
     
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  15. JonnoFM

    JonnoFM Peon

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    #15
    I defy anybody to answer that one - can only work with what I've got.
     
    JonnoFM, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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  16. Ephemeral

    Ephemeral Peon

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    #16
    The big bang set the initial conditions, and then everything unfolded from that.

    For those of you that have studied the subject you will know what I mean by "Given a set of antecedent conditions, each individual will act in a certain way."
     
    Ephemeral, Feb 26, 2007 IP
  17. KalvinB

    KalvinB Peon

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    #17
    The restrictions to your free will have everything to do with fact and logic.
     
    KalvinB, Feb 26, 2007 IP
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    #18
    Hang on. Are we heading into a philosophy discussion? :D If so, I wanna get off this merry-go-round right now :D

    Col :)
     
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  19. Bestmiler

    Bestmiler Peon

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    #19
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  20. kae

    kae Peon

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    #20

    So dont run off the cliff...but if you really want to..... maybe you could use a glider to land you safely. The world is full of scientific facts that just wont change . We learn by a type of cause and effect rule that determines outcomes but ultimately unless your pushed, that cliff holds no danger if you have chosen wisely.
     
    kae, Feb 26, 2007 IP