Have you thought about what makes them choose one option over the others? It's because of everything that has happened to them previously. Their brain is configured to choose that option.

Well you'd have to prove that the brain is set to make those choices, almost mechanically. Which is impossible, so anything you say on the matter is only conjecture.

Even if I could concede that point, a brain making decisions is still defined as choice.

I don't know how you can say it's impossible. One day we may have options, such as modeling the brain in a computer simulation. But I do not think we even need to do this.

Think about why you choose something. You chose it because inside your head, millions of reactions have occurred, which cause you to think what you think, and know what you know. Even if this exists, there could also be a tiny part of the brain that is part of you that just wants to be an asshole and overrides the first choice. Still this is all caused by the brain, and the only way the brain got to that point is through millions of action and reaction; what it has been through in life.

e/You cannot control the chemical reactions inside your head.

If I could prove through measurement that the brain is set to make those choices, I'd say this: This choice is entirely controlled. There is no either/or.

This post was edited by OnlyD3 on May 6 2013 11:59am

Sure that may all happen but you still decide to make a choice.

I think you're trying to draw a one to one parallel to a factory that makes basically any product, let's say pillows. A factory has all the machines and technology used to make pillows, and all it does is make pillows.

Humans make decisions based on chemical reactions in the brain, as well as memories, experience, and how we are taught. Those are all previous actions, sure. But we are not factories that make specific pre-determined actions. They are decisions we make real time. That is choice.

Memories/how we are taught are all stored in the brain. How are they stored? Chemicals. Why do we act the way we act? The chemicals.

They have to be predetermined because you cannot control how these chemicals behave in the brain. You have absolutely no control over it. What happens inside your brain is completely predetermined because it happened only because of everything that happened previously.

I just thought of an experiment: Let's say we take a brand new brain. No experience or anything. It is just a brain, with only the ability to process information. There are no sensory organs attached to it. What do you think this brain would* do if presented with a choice between one thing or another? Would it know that it can choose since nothing has stimulated it prior to this presentation of a choice it can make? Would it just pick randomly? I don't even know where to start with that.

This post was edited by OnlyD3 on May 6 2013 12:56pm

Well the brain needs language and construct in order to have choice. What you've provided is a primitive brain without the capacity of choice.. not a very good example, which is why we have the age of accountability and such things like that.

I would say rather, a person who lived in tribal village for over 30 years and then comes to America. How would this person react to things like abundance of food or convenient running water. These things have been portrayed in many books.

Regardless, I don't disagree with you that the way we are nurtured dictates what we do, but still, we choose to do them. For example, I can do my homework today, or tomorrow. My body is telling me to do it tomorrow. I still chose to do it.

You made that choice because of your character. If your character was different, you would not have made that choice.

Your character is essentially the experiences that have made you who you are. You retain who you are because of your brain. Your brain does this because of chemicals. Action, and reaction.

You are confusing "choice" with how your brain functions.

There can be things that change your character. Events that set the reactions on different paths, essentially creating a different "you". Choice is just an illusion.

This post was edited by OnlyD3 on May 6 2013 01:04pm

Sure, you can look at life however you want to. But there is a dark implication to what you are positing. A person with your worldview can justify mass murder. He just blames it on his brain and character and said 'i had no choice!'

So what is it? Are we accountable by our actions or are we off the hook because we have no choice?

God is not an old man in the sky watching us and listening to our prayers.
Such tragedies are just how are lives are balanced in the long run, bad luck is balanced with good luck.
Sometimes it takes more than a lifespan to balance out, but it doesn't matter because we are immortal spiritual beings.
Just read first 3 pages of The Present, it explains it better than I could. http://www.truthcontest.com/entries/the-present-universal-truth/

Please stick to real arguments based on the merit of the claim instead of how you feel about it. This post is just saying that you don't like the implications, so they just can't be true.