Free will redux: What is true free will?

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos

Nap, interrupted.
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
Joined
Aug 3, 2001
Messages
19,141
A thread in the Science section got sidetracked to the question of true free will. It was suggested that we continue that topic here.

I hope Piggy will regale us with his ideas about "true" or "genuine" free will, which is called libertarian free will in the philosophy biz.

~~ Paul
 
I don't think true free will can exist if consciousness comes from the brain. It is simply an object that is subject to physical laws.
 
Good question. Even if we don't have free will (and I think it's very likely that we don't have functional free will) it's fascinating that we have apparent free will and it's worth asking where that comes from too.

It's also worth pondering the evolutionary purpose. Also what life forms appear to have free will and what life forms don't.
 
Dave1001 said:
Even if we don't have free will (and I think it's very likely that we don't have functional free will) it's fascinating that we have apparent free will and it's worth asking where that comes from too.

It's also worth pondering the evolutionary purpose.
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Absent free will, what's the evolutionary purpose of pondering "free will"?

Why do you even have to ask?
 
President Bush said:
Absent free will, what's the evolutionary purpose of pondering "free will"?

Why do you even have to ask?
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Well it might not have an evolutionary purpose. It might be an artifact of evolution. As for why I even have to ask, why not? If the answer is obvious, clue me in. =)
 
My dog Hu-Chu gets...stuck...sometimes. Between two choices. Then he gets visibly and audibly frustrated. He has a particular grumble and moan that happens when he's trapped between the hard rock and the place, the liger and the tady. Anybody else have a dog like that? Or maybe I just place him in that situation way too often (and I do, all in the name of science!). I'll expound if anyone's interested. Hu-Chu's a great dog...I don't know if it's free will or what. Probably not. He growls whenever I say Hillary Clinton. Great dog.

-Elliot
 
elliotfc said:
My dog Hu-Chu gets...stuck...sometimes. Between two choices. Then he gets visibly and audibly frustrated. He has a particular grumble and moan that happens when he's trapped between the hard rock and the place, the liger and the tady. Anybody else have a dog like that? Or maybe I just place him in that situation way too often (and I do, all in the name of science!). I'll expound if anyone's interested. Hu-Chu's a great dog...I don't know if it's free will or what. Probably not. He growls whenever I say Hillary Clinton. Great dog.

-Elliot
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Your dog? Free Will?
Does he have the Buddha Nature?
 
KingMerv00 said:
Are you suggesting the brain makes its own physical laws?
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Not sure if he meant it that way, but isn't there meaningful research into what degree what we perceive to be the laws of the universe are actually more reflective of the neuroanatomy of our brain?
 
Dave1001 said:
Not sure if he meant it that way, but isn't there meaningful research into what degree what we perceive to be the laws of the universe are actually more reflective of the neuroanatomy of our brain?
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I get it now.

I don't see how that involves free will though.
 
KingMerv00 said:
Are you suggesting the brain makes its own physical laws?
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I was thining more of whether free will is primarily affected or determined from within, or without. Granted, life is the interaction between the two, but to me free will is the operation of that which is within, which is how I view free will.

-Elliot
 
elliotfc said:
I was thining more of whether free will is primarily affected or determined from within, or without. Granted, life is the interaction between the two, but to me free will is the operation of that which is within, which is how I view free will.

-Elliot
Click to expand...

Within your brain? Aren't the inner workings of your brain the result of physical laws?
 
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