Philosophy discussion

“Do you think free will is real, or an illusion? Why?”
“This theme is central to a character's journey in my book. Would love your opinion.”


#DeepThinking #PhilosophyCommunity #FaithAndReason #WhyWeBelieve

first of all, what do you mean by free will. you have the free will to act as good as you can, but you don't have the free will not to react to a predator that is about to do you harm. so, humans have free will, but it is limited. end of story, if you ask me.

Or all current states proceed from previous states. So, if you can follow your event sequence back to a choice over which you had no control, your free will becomes an illusion.

How many chose to be born?

@J. Gowin.....that's correct according to classical physics law.... everything has a fixed cause and vice Versa. But quantum mechanics says things may evolve in different ways for same given initial state.. with different different probability....so in this way things are not already decided....free will may arise just due to this.

Why we believe by Abhishek Kumar

Abhishek wrote: "@J. Gowin.....that's correct according to classical physics law.... everything has a fixed cause and vice Versa. But quantum mechanics says things may evolve in different ways for same given initia..."

Quantum fluctuations can break causality. But random particle states are outside of our control. Therefore, we are still the puppets, not the masters.

yes quantum process can be said random.but. What I think is , also shown by neuroscience, we are just witness to decisions which are taken by our brain chemicals and neurons...Neuroscienece suggests that first decision are made in the nrain then we become aware that we have taken the decision.

Abhishek wrote: "yes quantum process can be said random.but. What I think is , also shown by neuroscience, we are just witness to decisions which are taken by our brain chemicals and neurons...Neuroscienece suggest..."

How do decisions of which you are unaware equal free will?

I think awareness itself and illusion

If we reject extreme metaphysical positions and endorse Buddhism's doctrine of Two Truths', as expounded by Nagarjuna, then we must say that we both do and do not have freewill.

This would be the reason why the freewill question remains unresolved in Western philosophy. Neither of the extreme views work, and nobody takes any notice of Nagarjuna. The same problem arises for every metaphysical question, resulting in two millennia of philosophical stagnation, and still nobody takes any notice.

If we want the true answer then we need to remember Lao Tzu's statement, 'True words seem paradoxical''.