Religion
In reply to the discussion: Free will and consciousness [View all]Jim__
(14,076 posts)... that is not understood is nonsense.
Neither consciousness nor free will is sufficiently understood for anyone to offer a complete and coherent explanation of it. Therefore, anyone making claims about these things needs to provide arguments to back up these claims.
To me, a compelling argument that we have the ability to freely choose is that as I sit here typing, I can freely choose to raise my arm. I can also freely choose not to do it. Either choice that I make will be carried out by my body. These are completely arbitrary decisions that do not involve feelings.
Saying that we can freely choose some things does not imply that we can freely choose all things. I agree that sexual preference is not a conscious choice. Also, our emotions are not completely under our control. That does not establish that we have no free choice.