Re: Freewill
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I think if there is part of our consciousness independent of the physical world, then it's the part that experiences or feels, not a part that acts. If it acts then it isn't independent of the physical world.
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If its INDEPENDENT of the physical world, how could we ever know what it is doing? Independent sort of implies that it doesnt interact with the physical world in any way right? Well, that rules out emotions and feelings and thoughts. What exactly is it?
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"Free will" is our conscious decisions. You can say they are not "free" because they may have consequences, or results, brought about by your environment, that you were not anticipating, however, you are free to choose. If you have choice C or !C, and each of them have a consequence, you have "free will" to decide which choice benefits you the most, taking into consideration the consequence. The fact that the choice you make has a cost, does not put a price tag on your will.
A practicing alcoholic has limited free will. A recovering alcoholic with 15 years sobriety has more free will than one with 6 months sobriety.
So, yes, one's "free will" is compromised based upon genetic makeup, environment, etc., however, nobody or no thing (God) or "collective things" is controlling our decisions, unless, we are unconscious of our behavior and remain dormant to changing the negative aspects of our personality.
We do not have "free will" over everything, such as emotion, although there are those who can walk over a bed of hot coals with their bare feet; the average joe has to resign himself to just trying to (thru a willful decision of his own free will) to absolve himself from destruction behavior, i.e., drinking himself to death, abnormal anger issues.
Some of us, due to our genetic makeup, have no control over some of our actions, i.e., mentally ill patients. Serial killers are mentally ill.
So, is our will free? Yes, if our genes are perfect, however, our decisions have a consequence.
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