Re: Freewill
 

Any thoughts on the implications of free will not existing?

Re: Freewill
 

[ QUOTE ]
What could possibly give anyone free will?

[/ QUOTE ]

We could have free will if it turns out not to be the case that the universe is deterministic. I think quantum mechanics has caused some serious doubt over whether or not that is the case. Also, and I'll get mocked for saying this, it is possible there is some aspect of our consciousness that is independent of the physical world, making it consequently free from determinism.

Re: Freewill
 

[ QUOTE ]
What could possibly give anyone free will?

[/ QUOTE ] You have a poor imagination.

Re: Freewill
 

"Any thoughts on the implications of free will not existing? "

It makes it awfully hard to blame people for things they had no choice in doing.

Re: Freewill
 

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.

Re: Freewill
 

[ QUOTE ]
"Any thoughts on the implications of free will not existing? "

It makes it awfully hard to blame people for things they had no choice in doing.

[/ QUOTE ]
True and I think that's a good thing. Less hate = good. Of course we will still want to take measures to prevent them from harming us so punishment is still perfectly viable as a deterrent.

Re: Freewill
 

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps "independent" was a poor choice of words. Consider the following analogy. A gamer may control a video game character. Within the game, it appears as though the character has no free will and is completely determined by the the events of game world. However, the character's actions are actually controlled by a user who is independent of the rules of the game. He watches his monitor and listens to the speakers to receive input from the game world, and he controls his character so that he affects the game world, but he is not bound by the same rules that the character is.

Now consider real-life to be the game and consciousness to be playing the game. Because there is interaction between consciousness and the physical world in decision making, that part of consciousness isn't really independent of the physical world, but decisions can be made that are not solely bound by the limitations of the physical world.

Re: Freewill
 

Do we know enough about the properties of our universe to bombastically come to a conclusion about free will?

(And this is a question, not a statement disguised as one).

Re: Freewill
 

[ QUOTE ]

Do we know enough about the properties of our universe to bombastically come to a conclusion about free will?

(And this is a question, not a statement disguised as one).

[/ QUOTE ]

And the answer is no.

Although it seems some people just can't help themselves.

Re: Freewill
 

Where is the option for "It doesn't matter"?

Edit: Subfallen and AWoodside nailed it.