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The debate as to our free will is more widespread than most realize. It is also stalled without a definitive answer, because no one has come out with a definitive test.
From my point of view free will cannot be given, it is something that must be taken.
If someone has free will then they are in a position to give it up.
If a someone does not have free will, they cannot.
To prove that you have free will, all you would need do is give it up to someone else’s will for no other reason other than you chose to.
If you agree with the reasoning and think the process here sound, then I invite you to give up your free will to mine, by simply replying to this thread with a brief response.
You will begin your response with the letter Y, if you recognize that you have free will.
Your appropriate response will prove that you have a free will.
The debate as to our free will is more widespread than most realize. It is also stalled without a definitive answer, because no one has come out with a definitive test.
From my point of view free will cannot be given, it is something that must be taken.
If someone has free will then they are in a position to give it up.
If a someone does not have free will, they cannot.
To prove that you have free will, all you would need do is give it up to someone else’s will for no other reason other than you chose to.
If you agree with the reasoning and think the process here sound, then I invite you to give up your free will to mine, by simply replying to this thread with a brief response.
You will begin your response with the letter Y, if you recognize that you have free will.
Your appropriate response will prove that you have a free will.
Is this a definitive test for free will?
Regards
DL
I cannot begin a reply with either Y or N because I both have free will and do not have it.
As an analogy, am I solid? Well of course I am, if a truck runs into me, I'll find that out soon enough.
And yet science has shown that I am made up of molecules and molecules are made of atoms and atoms are as near nothing as makes no difference. So, actually, my solidity is an illusion. But it is a very convincing one.
Similarly, my free will - my ability to make decisions - is actually based on parameters. It has even been shown that a mind will make a decision before we are even conscious of it. So in a way we have the appearance of free will, but it is an illusion. But it is a very convincing one.
So what? Well, it means that we are just a mass of atoms and we don't decide anything 'freely'. But it doesn't matter. The illusion works well enough that we can function with the realities in the mental back drawer as it were.
So what about the poster's offer...?
It's nonsense. One might as well talk of giving up their liking for chocolate to someone else. It is not a thing someone can give away like a CD collection. Neither can it be taken away. My actions can be constrained either by others' coercion or by natural circumstances, but that has nothing to do with my apparent free will decision. OP premise is unsound.
Last edited by TRANSPONDER; 01-19-2010 at 11:42 AM..
I cannot begin a reply with either Y or N because I both have free will and do not have it.
As an analogy, am I solid? Well of course I am, if a truck runs into me, I'll find that out soon enough.
And yet science has shown that I am made up of molecules and molecules are made of atoms and atoms are as near nothing as makes no difference. So, actually, my solidity is an illusion. But it is a very convincing one.
Similarly, my free will - my ability to make decisions - is actually based on parameters. It has even been shown that a mind will make a decision before we are even conscious of it. So in a way we have the appearance of free will, but it is an illusion. But it is a very convincing one.
So what? Well, it means that we are just a mass of atoms and we don't decide anything 'freely'. But it doesn't matter. The illusion works well enough that we can function with the realities in the mental back drawer as it were.
So what about the poster's offer...?
It's nonsense. One might as well talk of giving up their liking for chocolate to someone else. It is not a thing someone can give away like a CD collection. Neither can it be taken away. My actions can be constrained either by others' coercion or by natural circumstances, but that has nothing to do with my apparent free will decision. OP premise is unsound.
That is because you do not believe that we are here to make any decisions.
How can a psychic see things IN THE FUTURE if it hasnt been written yet?? (We are just pawns going thru the time continum)
I really do not want this to be seen as response to OP. This is response to the post quoted.
There is free will. It is available to anyone. As far as one is thinking, one may make a decision, should it even be a mental one. There is a great story on this, Star Rover by Jack London. Worth reading.
Future is written. It is called destiny. Also known as karma, kismet, fate and so on. In every culture there had always been some sort or understanding of pre-destination of things to come. Every human creates its own destiny. Every human has free will choice WITHIN that destiny. This is reason for human existence on Earth - to work out its destiny. As soon as it is resolved, and no more destiny is created, human progresses, ascends.
Responding to your test is no more a test of free will than is anything else we do in life. If there is free will, we exercise it all day every day. If there isn't, than we see ourselves as making choices when in actuality we are fulfilling what we were destined to do. How is responding to your post any different than the other things we do all day?
I'm exercising my free will by leaving this thread to others...
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