Does Free will actually exist?

The subject of free will has been hotly debated by philosophers and scientists alike for many years. In the 1980's Dr. Benjamin Libet developed a series of experiments that showed specific brain activity indicating a choice made before the individual consciously made the choice. This was hailed as evidence that free will was an illusion. Since then others have challenged those experiments. 

Those who believe free will is an illusion often are materialist science believing everything is determined in advance. This line of thinking believes that the material brain is controlled by chemistry and physics, and the same controls our mind. However those who challenge that philosophy cite the placebo effect where our thinking actually changes the chemistry of our bodies. 

So in the final analysis, free will may or may not, truly exist. However we all live as if we do have free will. 

For some illogical reason, I've decided to answer this, even though I've seen this question posted ad nauseam!

My answer is I don't give a dam..n! Philosophers and clerics have debated this issue for centuries. I gave up considering this years ago. It really doesn't matter. It's similar to the question do we exist or is everything an illusion or what's the meaning of life?....probably there's others but these immediately come to my mind, or what's left of it.

In the end, all this philosophic convoluted and endless theorizing is pointless. We must accept what we assume is reality and live within the construct. Perhaps it's all an illusion. Perhaps if I choose vanilla rather than chocolate on Tuesday, it was predetermined and if I change my mind that was predetermined too. In the final analysis does it matter? Whatever we are, we are, and we must live with the dimensions and the reality we have. 

No           .

The opposite of "determined" is "undetermined" which is a synonym for "random". If there is not a string of events that directly determined the outcome, then the ONLY other possibility is that the outcome was random. 

This is why it is strange to me when people talk about "free will" in reference to "determinism". What is "free will"? Randomness? Do you not reason? Humans reason, you probably feel like you have good reasons for every action you take. Obviously you are not acting randomly.

According to me free will exists  and can be exercised subject to   many limitations , known and unknown.Those believe in karma believe that all actions will be according to   the karmic impressions carried forward from birth to birth also . from which there is no escape

Your examples are not limitations of free will....they are simply the potential environment in which free will may exist.  Free will does not mean unlimited choices, or even unbiased choices...it means the ability to select a choice independently.  And humans have demonstrated this in abundance.

The fact that you don't control everything doesn't invalidate the fact that you make choices. 

It doesn't matter why, our how, you became the person you are. You are who you are. Your will is your own, not someone, or something, else's. Saying that our minds control us is the same as saying that we control ourselves. Your subconscious mind, and your "pathological mind", as you say, are yours; they're part of you. 

Your surroundings don't determine your actions. You determine the way you react to your surroundings. You can act appropriately, or inappropriately. You have the ability. Anyone that envisions more than one possible course of action, and chooses one from among those possible courses of action, has exercised free will. 

"Free" "will" is an oxymoron.

"God" is not "free" to do unGodly things, e.g. injustice, unloving, etc.

"Man" in "God's Image" is not greater.

Such "freedom" is shown in a parable, in a book titled "Genesis," to be a lie:  "You shall not surely die" (if your egoism sophomorically elects to veil Energy).

There is One Will, God, Good, and true philosophy, or Love of Wise Dominion (aka God's Being and one's One Mind Soul-realization within), begins when egos realize that there is no Thing apart from God, Good, divine Energy.

What increases is degrees of agency insofar as Energy laws are learned, and correctly applied.  This is a lesson gleaned e.g. from "Genesis."

p.s.  "Correct" is of Latin "regere," "to lead in a straight way."

yes it does but freedom of speech dosent actually exist

 Our brain is physical ur Mind is our Spirit which works through the brain.  I am misfit and I don't want to fit in. It's not what happens to us,  it's how we deal with what happens to us.  Free Will