Does Free Will exist?

I'm in the "not sure" camp myself.

I suppose that we aren't completely free, we cannot choose what we will. At the very least our choices are limited by the state of our minds and our past experiences, you could never make a choice which does not occur to you. However, you can't walk into a restaurant and say "Que Sera, Sera, I'm a determinist case; I'll order whatever I order", the refusal to exercise free will is free will itself!

Either free will is an illusion, a kind of post event rationalization of a determinate decision making process which we, the conscious mind have nothing to do with, or we actually make the decisions from the limited set of options presented to us.

Which one it is ultimately depends on physics, on whether the universe is determinate in nature, and of course the nature of conscious thought and human minds.

Whatever the answer is, the illusion of free will will not go away. So even if only an illusion, I will continue to live my life as if it exists.

Spinoza is saying humans don't understand all the things that "cause" them to be what they are and what they become. I don't think he was a determinist (not sure) but that describes "scientific naturalism," or determinism. The theory is that since you cannot have control over the things that cause the necessity of making decisions, your will is not free. What is it not free of? Those causes. Spinoza seems to be saying those are the causes of which we are also not aware.

To be free of those causes is called "contra-causal". Determinists say we do not have that, and so our will is not free.

But all the things that "cause" you to be who you are or that cause you to make choices are part of life, which is part of existence. You cannot exist outside of existence. You must accept that all the choices you make including the ones you WANT to make are made possible by the existence of existence.

If "causes" did not exist, you would not exist. There would be no will at all, since will is applied against or for things which exist.

Free will has been adequately described as the freedom to think---------or not. If you have that power, you have free will. Remember William Wallace in "Braveheart"? Even when they were cutting off his testicles, he had the free will to cry out "Freedom!"

I don't agree with Spinoza. I do agree with Schopenhauer.

I do not presume free will because of my appetites. I can chose to eat or not, with a goal in mind and the knowledge of why I want.

I cannot explain what draws me to certain studies. I know that I pursue them because I choose to. Free will. To do or not to do.

Because we are humans, we can 'over-ride' a lot our instinctive actions, or reactions, which guides our behavior. The ability to do so has to be taught to us.

Because we are from the animal kingdom, there is a great deal of factors that makes us behave the way we do, which we do not have control over, no matter how hard we try.

Wisdom is knowing the difference and acting accordingly.

yes it does to an extent and that's because there is law. If the barriers weren't set here, this Earth will be a much nastier place. Everyone will start to do whatever they want with no control so it's better to have a world with Laws and alter the definition of freewill.

To some extent. Human being, most of the time is impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force. And that force is LUST, the formidable enemy of human.

We have partial independence, but by misuse of these independence, is transformed into the propensity for sense enjoyment, and we come under the sway of lust.

Yes, we have free will, it is this free will that makes the difference between us and other animals and angels.

I think the quote is rather explaining that there is a power that propels us to certain actions rather than our will power.

thats the dumbest quote ive ever heard..

free will is being able to crave your wants and desires at your own leisure. just because you dont understand why you want something doesnt mean you dont want it, and have a choice to either have it, or leave it.

so whether how big (careers etc.) or how small (lunch, dinner etc.) we all have the free will to do whatever we want.

...here's a hundred...

...when one stop to ponder, decide, select or choose, then act...

...is it the hundred that motivated the action or the penny...

...being able to understand my actions was more than what people place on the end result...

we really don't know b/c what if what we precieve to be free will is actually what we are programed to do wen we make a choice we may just always be destined to chose that