Happy Atheist Forum

General => Philosophy => Topic started by: MarcusA on May 12, 2023, 11:34:32 AM

Title: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 12, 2023, 11:34:32 AM
Free Will is limited. - Erasmus

Do you agree with the above statement or not?
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: Asmodean on May 12, 2023, 11:52:56 AM
I do not. It's... Complicated.

Yes, the things you can't do make for a far larger infinity than the things you can. However, Free Will is not the capacity to execute any choice to success, but merely the capacity to make such a choice.

You can choose to jump all the way to the Moon. You may not succeed, but you can make that choice. You can choose right in stead of left. You may get hit by a truck, but again, your choice.

In a strictly-deterministic Universe, you could argue that there is no choice because every action is an inevitable result of prior actions. I, however, just see that as changing of the framework without any practical impact on the conclusions.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 12, 2023, 02:08:11 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on May 12, 2023, 11:52:56 AMI do not. It's... Complicated.

Yes, the things you can't do make for a far larger infinity than the things you can. However, Free Will is not the capacity to execute any choice to success, but merely the capacity to make such a choice.

You can choose to jump all the way to the Moon. You may not succeed, but you can make that choice. You can choose right in stead of left. You may get hit by a truck, but again, your choice.

In a strictly-deterministic Universe, you could argue that there is no choice because every action is an inevitable result of prior actions. I, however, just see that as changing of the framework without any practical impact on the conclusions.


Is it your opinion, Asmo, that free will is limitless and it is humanity that limits itself?
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: Asmodean on May 12, 2023, 02:41:07 PM
Free will is just the capability to make choices according to your own wants and needs and/or contrary to others' wants and needs. You can decide to do whatever. Whether you succeed in its execution is a different matter. A paralysed person can make the choice to stand up and go for a run. The corresponding signals from their brain will get nowhere (let us say, for simplicity) but that makes them incapable of executing the end goal of their choice - not of the choosing itself.

Humanity is quite obviously limited in many ways, yes.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 12, 2023, 03:02:13 PM
To me, free will is a choice between Being and being simply an animal. Simple animal instinct doesn't always guide me but it does sometimes guide me down the wrong path.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: Asmodean on May 15, 2023, 07:43:16 AM
Yeah... I'd say that's legitimate. It's your ability to make a choice contrary to your own nature as well.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 16, 2023, 11:53:50 PM
Man is simply what he is, a god or a demon.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 26, 2023, 09:05:13 PM
I am free to do as I please within reason.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: Tank on May 27, 2023, 10:24:11 AM
Who defines what is reason?
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 27, 2023, 05:02:47 PM
Quote from: Tank on May 27, 2023, 10:24:11 AMWho defines what is reason?

Who but you.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: Tank on May 27, 2023, 05:35:01 PM
Quote from: MarcusA on May 27, 2023, 05:02:47 PM
Quote from: Tank on May 27, 2023, 10:24:11 AMWho defines what is reason?

Who but you.

So we're talking anarchy then?
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 27, 2023, 10:03:54 PM
Quote from: Tank on May 27, 2023, 05:35:01 PM
Quote from: MarcusA on May 27, 2023, 05:02:47 PM
Quote from: Tank on May 27, 2023, 10:24:11 AMWho defines what is reason?

Who but you.

So we're talking anarchy then?


No, law and order.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: billy rubin on May 27, 2023, 10:49:54 PM
law is defined by lawgivers, which are defined by power.

not by reason./
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on May 28, 2023, 08:21:41 AM
What is truth but the heart of a poet.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on July 10, 2023, 05:43:25 PM
Free Will keeps us from slavery.
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: No one on July 10, 2023, 06:04:04 PM
Freeing anyone will keep them from slavery?
Title: Re: On Free Will
Post by: MarcusA on July 21, 2023, 05:28:09 AM
We are all slaves to love.