Free will - does it exist?

[FnG]magnolia · 7 Nov 2011 at 05:45

dlte353 said:
moonspeak

That's an impressive wall of text but it's littered with contradictions, blatant nonsense and a large degree of hyperbole. Why not try condensing it down to one paragraph?

Castiel · 7 Nov 2011 at 06:26

[FnG]magnolia;20500934 said:
That's an impressive wall of text but it's littered with contradictions, blatant nonsense and a large degree of hyperbole. Why not try condensing it down to one paragraph?

You actually read that? :eek:

Xordium · 7 Nov 2011 at 06:41

[FnG]magnolia;20500934 said:
That's an impressive wall of text but it's littered with contradictions, blatant nonsense and a large degree of hyperbole. Why not try condensing it down to one paragraph?

The amazing thing is that when I see something like that I run the first paragraph through google and normally find the source - in this case I didn't! It aint a cut and paste crazy it's a crazy crazy :eek:

Energize · 7 Nov 2011 at 06:45

Probably cut and pasted from a document.

[FnG]magnolia · 7 Nov 2011 at 07:08

Castiel said:
You actually read that?

maustin said:
The amazing thing is that when I see something like that I run the first paragraph through google and normally find the source - in this case I didn't! It aint a cut and paste crazy it's a crazy crazy

Energize said:
Probably cut and pasted from a document.

Yes, I read it and no, it doesn't seem to be a copious pasta. Gentlemen, we have a Defcon Crazy situation. Leave while you still can.

TwsT · 7 Nov 2011 at 07:16

I have the free will to argue and say I will not watch this, but I will argue anyway! Or, did you condition me in this thread to make me do what I have said I will do? Oh noes! best watch the clip and make sure, dammit!

Ripper · 7 Nov 2011 at 07:47

?

markweatherill · 7 Nov 2011 at 07:50

As Devo put it:
What you want: Freedom of choice
What you've got: Freedom from choice.
I am not sure they were talking about the full scope of free will, but hey.

bam0 · 7 Nov 2011 at 08:05

Atrox Moris said:
If there are complex mathematical equations that can be applied to everything in the known universe (even though we don't know the extremely complex formulas for them at this given moment, or might never know the formulas) it is naive to assume that our behaviours and actions (and the behaviours and actions of other lifeforms) can not have a mathematical formula applied to them, which would make free will non-existent.

Several interpretations of quantum mechanics include genuine randomness, not just that some things are chaotic or unpredictable due to a lack of knowledge, but truly random.

Xordium · 7 Nov 2011 at 08:24

[FnG]magnolia;20500997 said:
Yes, I read it and no, it doesn't seem to be a copious pasta. Gentlemen, we have a Defcon Crazy situation. Leave while you still can.

Tikkabhuna · 7 Nov 2011 at 08:28

Castiel said:
Did you make that decision purely with free will or was there a myriad of other factors that led you to choose Butterscotch, such as your body craving something in the butterscotch that may not be in the lemon meringue for example?

How trivial was the decision? Or is it that we are simply unaware of the complexity of events that led you to choose Butterscotch Ice Cream?

But if there are no factors leading to the choice you make you're effectively basing it on nothing, which is pointless. Even God (we shall assume he's up there) would base his actions on something as why would anyone make a choice on which there's no basis?

Or am I thinking about this in a completely different way?

boxman2000 · 7 Nov 2011 at 08:33

Of course we have free will, the fact we're not forced to do everything we do is evidence of that

Xordium · 7 Nov 2011 at 08:47

boxman2000 said:
Of course we have free will, the fact we're not forced to do everything we do is evidence of that

Try to stop breathing then permanently.

[FnG]magnolia · 7 Nov 2011 at 08:58

boxman2000 said:
Of course we have free will, the fact we're not forced to do everything we do is evidence of that

If you had free will you wouldn't be humming Europe's "The Final Countdown" right now.

:eek:

Cosimo · 7 Nov 2011 at 09:00

Ripper said:
?[/QUOTE]

The word is will and not willy. :p

elmarko · 7 Nov 2011 at 09:11

No it does not.

Which sits uncomfortably with religion types as without "free will" sin, good & evil do not exist (ergo most religions are flawed at the core) - not saying specifically a "god concept" that's unprovable - but the Christian god is a myth.

A better video explains it all, it's called.

Sam Harris - The Illusion Of Free Will (3 part short vids on youtube).

Naffa · 7 Nov 2011 at 14:11

elmarko1234 said:
A better video explains it all, it's called.

Sam Harris - The Illusion Of Free Will (3 part short vids on youtube).

I actually got my copy of the Moral Landscape signed by Sam after I took a lecture by him.

/Show off