Free Will? Is It An Illusion? - Topic

Magikarpet

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#31

Jul 21 2010 06:11pm

Quote (Treasonist @ Jul 21 2010 01:39pm)

How do you define free will? I think this is the only way to really start a discussion about this topic.

I would say w/o anything it front of me, "the ability to choose your own fate, with no real influences intervening"

Treasonist

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#32

Jul 21 2010 08:29pm

Quote (Magikarpet @ Jul 21 2010 07:11pm)

I would say w/o anything it front of me, "the ability to choose your own fate, with no real influences intervening"

Well that's 100 impossible. Everything about you is socially determined. The language you speak, the technology around you, the socio-economic conditions you were born into etc.

Aristotle - "He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a go"

shardoflard

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#33

Jul 21 2010 11:27pm

if determinism is real... then whats the point in living :S

Nihlathak

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#34

Jul 21 2010 11:29pm

Quote (shay11 @ Jul 20 2010 07:48pm)

Don't worry Magikarpet, I shall form your opinion for you.

Free will is a misnomer, one does not make any decision free of influence in one way or another. Thus, we have will in that we can exert some control over our decisions, however not complete.

The best input I've seen in this thread thus far.

inkanddagger

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#35

Jul 21 2010 11:49pm

We have the free will to do things within the limits of being a human and living on a finite planet with finite resources and finite capacity.

LouisLeGros

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