Free Will?
This is something I've consistently wondered about and which I have only recently fleshed out what exactly my opinions on it are. This is far from a comprehensive essay and probably isn't complete, but I'm satisfied with it for now.
Ok, first, let me define four different states of reality which are possible.
Predetermined future and predetermined will:
This is like a movie. Everyone will always do the same thing. Their choices are not affected by outside influences, but rather by what they have been scripted to do. Also, the movie will always end the same way, with the same exact conclusion.
Predetermined future and free will(partial or total):
This is like an FF game(roughly). You can make choices, you can choose what you want to do, but, regardless of your choices, the ending will always be the same.
Undetermined future and partially predetermined will:
This is how I believe the world works, but I'll get to that later. Under this, at least one being has free will, and that being(s)'s choices will influence what happens in the future. Also under this, there are beings which have no free will. Their actions are predetermined to some extent, but, without giving them free will, they may be open to reactions to other beings exercising free will.
Undetermined future and total free will:
This means that any and all beings are free to do whatever they please, and the future is determined by what happens.
Under total predetermined will, because science works on set and predictable rules, the future is necessarily predetermined.
Now, as to why I believe the world is an undetermined future with some beings having predetermined will:
First off, some of the future is predetermined. The universe works on set patterns, and will always work as such. In fact, the only X factor involved is beings with free will. Because of this, certain things are guaranteed to come in the future, such as death and taxes.
I believe that plants and animals do not have free will. Animals only respond to stimuli. All of an animals actions are determined by stimuli. For example, an animal will always choose food which tastes better over food which is healthier.
So, without delving into the realm of philosophy and spirituality, humans are the only living beings with free will. It is possible that will is predetermined and no way of disproving predetermined will, but there is no way of proving or disproving free will by the same token.
As for Pacce's take on it, I have a few disagreements. First off, you can choose to attempt to drive in a straight line from your house to the parking space, and nothing will stop you in attempting to do so. That the laws of physics and the laws of man don't allow you to do so is no impediment of your free will. You willed it to happen, but the world could be said to have willed it to not happen. This would be a battle of wills, yours versus the world. The world has a stronger will because it uses the laws of physics and the laws of man on its side.
Basically, everything can be considered a battle of wills between you and some other entity, be it a person or the world. If you follow the laws of man and the laws of physics, you will always defeat the world in a battle of wills. Against another person, however, there is more involved, because you are not only battling your wills against each other, but also against that of the world.
A battle of wills isn't an impediment to free will, but rather the natural consequence when two wills(free or otherwise) collide. The world tries to keep everything orderly and in its place, and every act you take is a disruption of the order, however slight. This is why there is a constant battle of wills between you and the world.
In short, there is no way of us knowing whether will or the future is predetermined. With that in mind, you must choose to believe that you're free to do what you want, or follow your predestined course and embrace predetermined will.
Ok, first, let me define four different states of reality which are possible.
Predetermined future and predetermined will:
This is like a movie. Everyone will always do the same thing. Their choices are not affected by outside influences, but rather by what they have been scripted to do. Also, the movie will always end the same way, with the same exact conclusion.
Predetermined future and free will(partial or total):
This is like an FF game(roughly). You can make choices, you can choose what you want to do, but, regardless of your choices, the ending will always be the same.
Undetermined future and partially predetermined will:
This is how I believe the world works, but I'll get to that later. Under this, at least one being has free will, and that being(s)'s choices will influence what happens in the future. Also under this, there are beings which have no free will. Their actions are predetermined to some extent, but, without giving them free will, they may be open to reactions to other beings exercising free will.
Undetermined future and total free will:
This means that any and all beings are free to do whatever they please, and the future is determined by what happens.
Under total predetermined will, because science works on set and predictable rules, the future is necessarily predetermined.
Now, as to why I believe the world is an undetermined future with some beings having predetermined will:
First off, some of the future is predetermined. The universe works on set patterns, and will always work as such. In fact, the only X factor involved is beings with free will. Because of this, certain things are guaranteed to come in the future, such as death and taxes.
I believe that plants and animals do not have free will. Animals only respond to stimuli. All of an animals actions are determined by stimuli. For example, an animal will always choose food which tastes better over food which is healthier.
So, without delving into the realm of philosophy and spirituality, humans are the only living beings with free will. It is possible that will is predetermined and no way of disproving predetermined will, but there is no way of proving or disproving free will by the same token.
As for Pacce's take on it, I have a few disagreements. First off, you can choose to attempt to drive in a straight line from your house to the parking space, and nothing will stop you in attempting to do so. That the laws of physics and the laws of man don't allow you to do so is no impediment of your free will. You willed it to happen, but the world could be said to have willed it to not happen. This would be a battle of wills, yours versus the world. The world has a stronger will because it uses the laws of physics and the laws of man on its side.
Basically, everything can be considered a battle of wills between you and some other entity, be it a person or the world. If you follow the laws of man and the laws of physics, you will always defeat the world in a battle of wills. Against another person, however, there is more involved, because you are not only battling your wills against each other, but also against that of the world.
A battle of wills isn't an impediment to free will, but rather the natural consequence when two wills(free or otherwise) collide. The world tries to keep everything orderly and in its place, and every act you take is a disruption of the order, however slight. This is why there is a constant battle of wills between you and the world.
In short, there is no way of us knowing whether will or the future is predetermined. With that in mind, you must choose to believe that you're free to do what you want, or follow your predestined course and embrace predetermined will.