Religion

Nitram

(22,791 posts)

1. How do you explain the fact that our various preferences and inclinations...

Mon Sep 19, 2016, 10:44 AM

Sep 2016

change over time due to experience? You seem to be assuming that we are hard-wired when you write that our religious and sexual preferences are already decided for us. The fact that feeling plays a role in decision-making in no way invalidates the role our consciousness plays. Yes,we are influenced by many factors of which we are unaware. Perhaps you are suggesting that "free will" implies that we have all the information we need to make good decisions, and our decisions are made with completely logical objectivity. I'd suggest that our free will falls somewhere in between such a starkly rational view and the view that we have no ability to make choices at all.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

44 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Free will and consciousness [View all] cpwm17 Sep 2016 OP

How do you explain the fact that our various preferences and inclinations... Nitram Sep 2016 #1

We learn over time, based on how are brains are made and our environment. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #3

It should also be remembered... AlbertCat Sep 2016 #18

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2016 #2

First of all, the claim that one side has the burden of proof with respect to a phenomenon ... Jim__ Sep 2016 #4

Where did that thought to raise your arm come from? (pretend you actually had that thought) cpwm17 Sep 2016 #6

The origin of the thought is based on both external and internal events. Jim__ Sep 2016 #10

Free will is a particular ability. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #12

I notice that you didn't explain that "subtle process." Jim__ Sep 2016 #14

Yes, with brain imaging scientists can study which areas in the brain are involved cpwm17 Sep 2016 #15

"Johns Hopkins University researchers are the first to glimpse the human brain making a purely ... Jim__ Sep 2016 #20

The haven't supported free will, as I am using that term, and it's frequently used. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #25

They are talking about a purely voluntary decision to act. They are calling that free will. Jim__ Sep 2016 #29

Perhaps a more accurate and clear definition of free will cpwm17 Sep 2016 #31

No. That's neither more accurate nor clearer. Jim__ Sep 2016 #34

Conscious freedom to choose requires consciousness to be the originator of thoughts. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #38

Please cite your source for the claim about the most common definition of free will. Jim__ Sep 2016 #39

The subtle feelings are related to what Antonio Damasio calls background feelings cpwm17 Sep 2016 #16

A neurological basis for free will - a conversation with Antonio Demasio. Jim__ Sep 2016 #21

Demasio apparently thinks we have free will, though he didn't explain in detail how it works, cpwm17 Sep 2016 #28

Here's one Ted Talks speaker's beliefs on free will. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #17

To call his talk speculative would be generous. Jim__ Sep 2016 #22

I'll reword what he and I have written about thoughts popping into our heads. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #24

People seem to have a pretty good idea about how to make thoughts "pop into our heads." Jim__ Sep 2016 #30

The illusion of free will is strong cpwm17 Sep 2016 #32

You're just making "stuff" up. I base that on your statements. Jim__ Sep 2016 #36

I've answered your question. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #37

We've been over this all before. Jim__ Sep 2016 #40

As I wrote before, the vast majority of what happens in the brain is outside of consciousness. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #41

Once again, most of your post is just making stuff up. Jim__ Sep 2016 #42

Consciousness is an emergent property of caffine. stone space Sep 2016 #33

Ha ha! Jim__ Sep 2016 #35

Was post #2 a failed exercise of free will? stone space Sep 2016 #5

I wish I knew. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #9

I've never quite understood just what folks mean by the term "free will". stone space Sep 2016 #7

You would have free will if your thoughts and actions originate from consciousness and if you had cpwm17 Sep 2016 #8

>claims brain is a black box no one knows anything about Lordquinton Sep 2016 #11

All good responses I've been receiving from everyone. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #13

This smells to me like philosophy in the service of reactionary politics: struggle4progress Sep 2016 #19

Actually, the realization that we have no free will can lead to compassion. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #23

Binary thinkers often seem confused to me struggle4progress Sep 2016 #26

That has nothing to do with binary thinking. cpwm17 Sep 2016 #27

I think binary thinking is a problem in these discussions Bradical79 Oct 2016 #43

At any moment in time, we act and think according to our dominant feeling at the moment cpwm17 Oct 2016 #44