top | item 18067960

(no title)

asey | 7 years ago

I'd argue that there are more than three possibilities. One addition, for example, is that the concept of free will is under-defined and an intelligible conversation can't be had about it. I encourage you to define free will without resorting to synonyms like volition, free choice, and the likes.

discuss

order

mythrwy|7 years ago

In order to define "free will" as in "I have free will" or "We have free will" first we have to define who "I" or "We" is and I'm not sure we have accurately done that yet.

Who (or more precisely what component of "us") is it exactly is it that has free will? The ethereal eternal soul (which is that anything but an imagined property of conscious beings)? The meat abacus in our heads? the nerves in our arms?

lisper|7 years ago

Notice that in my OP I was actually very careful to talk about the perception of free will, and not free will itself.