14 replies to this topic

[Cheesehead3557]

An age old question. To what extent are we able to control our own destiny. Are we fated to a certain destiny or can we fight it. Has God determined our path for us without deviation according to his plan, or do we decide on or own choices. Are we simply products of are environment or do we decide from some inner presence what we do. I invite you to remember the paradox of the broken pot in the Matrix. I open this with a great paradoxical quote:

"We must believe in free will. We have no choice."
-- Isaac B. Singer

[Rayburn]

I think our natural conception would allow us to have a free will but we usually haven't because our will is formed by our education and the world around us, values we receive from family and parents, that stuff. Technically, we could think and want what ever we'd like but our education sort of limits the things we would "dare" to think of.

[Cryptkeeper]

yes we have freewill i think of things society doesn't want me to societies closed bars has no effect on me thats why they fear and hate me

my environment is that conservative overprotective parents but i think nothing like them i exspand my mind to things beyound the society i live in.

[General]

I think it does exists but I also believe there is a powerfull deity which can affect our free wills .

[Prophet of the Pimps]

if god effects it then how is it free?

[Golan]

It all depends on what you see as free will. If you say that we ourselfs can decide, then yes, there is free will. However, if you mean that we decide without any influence or predomination... well, neurology and some laws of science will fuck you up pretty badly.

[Ektufall]

The fate in big steps are made for us only the way we will reach it is depending on us ... Thats my opinion. So free will more or less does exist!

Edited by Ektufall, 01 May 2007 - 11:21.

[Overdose]

MDW, on 1 May 2007, 02:35, said:

I think our natural conception would allow us to have a free will but we usually haven't because our will is formed by our education and the world around us, values we receive from family and parents, that stuff. Technically, we could think and want what ever we'd like but our education sort of limits the things we would "dare" to think of.

Indeed that's how it goes.

[TehKiller]

If you can define free will than thats most probably on how your mind is effected....like if your mind is totaly depressed u think u beat up someone as an act of free will

[Whitey]

Free will exists, but so does the ability to accurately (to an extent) gauge it. So while there is free will, it is governed by certain laws. An obvious example being that I cannot fly. Less obviously, I am not going to eat a hamburger today. Fate will not tell me what I am to do, I will. I can clap my hands for no damn reason, only because I feel like it. Nothing is pre-determined.

[G-sus]

fate and free will don't contradict themselves,
so god´s plan is our own choice.

on the other side, is free will really something that does even matter?
i think it's not.

Edited by G-sus, 01 May 2007 - 20:57.

[Lord Atlantis]

God knows what we are going to do every day of our lives. But we don't know that so what we see in our eyes as free will is actually fate in God's eyes.

-Lord_Atlantis

[AllStarZ]

I just play it safe and play it through. If God has some sort of intention for me then let it be. If God isn't there but fate is, what does it matter? But if I had free will I would do what I feel I would do, as in the latter and the former.

[General]

Prophet of the Pimps, on 1 May 2007, 07:55, said:

if god effects it then how is it free?

You are free to do whatever you want until 'Judge' orders you to get into jail . If you understand what I mean.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Being an atheist I believe complete and total free will within the laws of science. however, with the absolute bizzareness we call quantum theory and hyperspace theory, we can do basically anything you want. Even go faster than the speed of light.