The notion that we have free will is, in essence, an idea that willful act can ultimately originate within us. — Henri
But that's not possible since we are not eternal beings, but beings who were created at certain point in time. So, nothing can ultimately originate within us. — Henri
If you say that someone's future decisions are predestined, and so the person doesn't have free will, how can you show this to be true. — wax
You would have to claim that it's not possible for sodium acetate to originate in the vinegar/baking soda combo. — Terrapin Station
New mixture originates from the vinegar/soda mixture, on surface level, or on first level. Honey in my tea originates from a jar, but it doesn't mean that honey ultimately originates from a jar. — Henri
Reality has to have real quality of being able to produce what we see as something new, before the act of creation. If it didn't have that real quality, "new" thing would not be produced. — Henri
When man's sperm meets woman's egg, it can start a process that results in human being. — Henri
But that's not possible since we are not eternal beings, but beings who were created at certain point in time. So, nothing can ultimately originate within us. — Henri
When man's sperm meets woman's egg, it can start a process that results in human being. But if sperm meets anything other than woman's egg, nothing will result from it. Why? Because reality is already set in a way to produce new thing in first case, and nothing in second. — Henri
You need to show that the originating cause of our existence is definitely something external to us, and not something which is within us — Metaphysician Undercover
It is what is within the sperm and the ovum which are responsible for the existence of the human being, and there is a continuity of DNA through the process — Metaphysician Undercover
You agree that sodium acetate is produced in the example above, right? Does that process originate sodium acetate? If not, what's the requirement for "origination" that's not being met? — Terrapin Station
You are mixing "originate" with "ultimately originate" in this discussion. "Ultimately originate" is the root cause . . . Vinegar and soda are not the root cause of mixture they produce, because they are created entities themselves, which means that there was a root cause for their creation that existed before they were created. — Henri
What are the definitions you're using of "originate," "ultimately originate," and "root cause"? — Terrapin Station
Originating cause of your existence is definitely something external to you. Do you disagree with that? — Henri
Do you claim that originating cause of your existence is yourself? Then you are the one to prove such claim. — Henri
How did first sperm and ovum come into existence? How does continuity of DNA exist? How does process that allows for DNA to exist exist? — Henri
The O.P.'s premise that we have no free will is demonstrably false.
I have a little test that irrefutably shows that we do have a free will whose only limits are physics and nature. We cannot choose to fly but can chose anything within our natural limitations.
If anyone really believes they have no free will to choose between alternatives, my test will show you that you do. It is quick and simple.
Come one come all. — Gnostic Christian Bishop
Say that some phenomena can happen acasually. You'd say that it can only happen acausally via an "eternal being" I suppose. — Terrapin Station
Actually, was it even will at all? Is there such a thing as ‘will’ that ‘you’ ‘have’? — unforeseen
No, I wouldn't say that the originating cause of my existence is myself, that would be nonsense. However, it looks far more likely that the originating cause of my existence is something internal to me. — Metaphysician Undercover
What would you say is required other than (a) will, and (b) a lack of determinism in conjunction with will? — Terrapin Station
What does s required for free will. — Terrapin Station
And if that phenomena, when it occurs, isn't of you, what is it of? — Terrapin Station
If free will is a willful act of a conscious being which ultimately originates within that being, then a being has to be eternal, without being created at certain point in time, in order to have free will. Maybe to add, if that's not a given, that such being must not be subjected to randomness. — Henri
Say that some phenomena can happen acasually. You'd say that it can only happen acausally via an "eternal being" I suppose. Why would you say that? — Terrapin Station
So it's God's thought, not your own? — Terrapin Station
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