grinder Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 If every thing we do is already foretold, how can we possibly have free will ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number Six Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Indeed. And if we have no free will, how can we be morally responsible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingjimmy Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I do not believe in absolute free will. However the universe and brain are complicated enough that to all intents and purposes we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan22 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I do not believe in absolute free will. However the universe and brain are complicated enough that to all intents and purposes we do. Do you believe that a person who violates reciprocal moral obligation is entitled to rely on law to defend their actions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthenekred Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Do you believe that a person who violates reciprocal moral obligation is entitled to rely on law to defend their actions? Doesn't morality and law run hand in hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esme Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Mod Note If you wish to make posts relevant to the topic, please go ahead. However you should attack the argument, not the person making it and don't bring up disagreements from other threads. Posts have been removed for failing to observe these reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadingNorth Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Doesn't morality and law run hand in hand? Only up to a point. Some things which are legal are of highly questionable morality; some things which don't carry any obvious moral problems, are nevertheless illegal. But I'm not sure what any of this, or indeed what Rowan's question in the first place, has to do with free will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthenekred Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Only up to a point. Some things which are legal are of highly questionable morality; some things which don't carry any obvious moral problems, are nevertheless illegal. But I'm not sure what any of this, or indeed what Rowan's question in the first place, has to do with free will. Yes I agree. Generally their more of a compliment to one another. It makes you wonder, what came first. Morality or law. edit: Sorry, back on track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavegirl Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 If every thing we do is already foretold, how can we possibly have free will ? I had a really interesting discussion about this with my OH a few weeks ago. I've always believed that I have free will- that I essentially steer my life through a series of choices, actions and consequences and because I understand the consequences I can make rational initial choices. However, my partner pointed out that we cannot know our subconscious and the influence that this has on our choices. If fate is essentially a phenomenon that we cannot control but which effects our personal choices then surely that phenomenon is our subconscious- not God/ gods/ aliens or anything else externalised. When I was a little girl my great gran used to show me the fairies that lived at the bottom of her beautiful garden. I loved her garden and this was probably a huge influence on my choice to have an allotment- perhaps it was fate rather than free will that effected that particular choice, but my free will gives me the freedom to choose not to have an allotment. Hope that makes some sense... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxyross Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 If I believe that I have free will, does it matter if I don't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.