I believe it is a healthy thing to be agnostic. (BTW, the term refers mainly to God of gods.)I am agnostic about a lot of things. — Truth Seeker
... I'm sure you missed quite a few ... Don't you know how to ride a bicycle? :grin:I am completely certain of the following: — Truth Seeker
I don't believe that you are "almost cerain", i.e. there a possiblity that you won't dieI am almost certain of the following: — Truth Seeker
I'm really surprised that you equate humans with all other organisms. At least, you could equate them with primates, esp. apes.Humans and other organisms do not have free will. — Truth Seeker
This might be fun ...My definition of free will is a will that is free from determinants and constraints. To prove me wrong, you would have to do the following: — Truth Seeker
Well, that's a noble and honest endeavor. And you seem indeed a honest person.I am the Truth Seeker, not the Truth Knower. — Truth Seeker
I'm very sorry to hear that, TS.I am suffering from depression and CPTSD which affects my thoughts and emotions. — Truth Seeker
I don't believe this is true.You could argue that I do not have a sound mind. — Truth Seeker
I know. I think I said that myself too.When I asked "Is solipsism true?" what I meant is that "Is solipsism real? i.e. am I the only real entity in all of reality?" — Truth Seeker
Yes, most probably. For me, free will is simply what it says: freedom to act on one's own will. It should not get mixed with foreign substances. Not even with determinism, which is usually opposed to. Because once you do that, it gets more and more complicated as a concept and its essence is lost.I think we are using very different definitions for free will. Although you have not stated which definition of free will you are using. — Truth Seeker
Correct. You can infer dozens of things. It's essence won't change. But it may be lost, as I said.I am inferring that your definition is "Free will is the ability to decide what to do independently of any outside influence." — Truth Seeker
I see. Well, can anyone eliminate all determinants and constraints, both internal and external as you say? This could only be done by some god, if in its definition we included the omnipotent element. However this is fantasy. In reality, and for humans, there are always determinants and constraints. But the issue here is not to eliminate them but base our decisions and actions after taking them into consideration. This does not prevents us from acting voluntarily, at our own will.My definition of free will is a will that is free from determinants and constraints. I am talking about both internal (e.g. genes) and external (e.g. environments) determinants and constraints. — Truth Seeker
Certainly. I see your point. So, language is a limitation in our communication with other people. But it's only that, Not being able to speak Japanese does not mean that I'm not able to speak at my own will.If the zygote that was I had all the correct genes and was in the correct environment and received the correct nutrients then I would have been born as a healthy human baby. If that baby had different experiences from me such as learning Japanese instead of English, I would not be typing this message. — Truth Seeker
Some of the determinants and constraints can be changed.
For example:
1. Gene therapy.
2. Changing the environment by moving to a different part of the Earth.
3. Giving aid to famine victims who are dying from not having enough nutrients.
4. Rescuing people from modern slavery and giving them treatment for PTSD if necessary.
Of course, many of the determinants and constraints can't be changed by the subjects and they need external help from others e.g. doctors, aid workers, police officers, paramedics, etc. — Truth Seeker
You have stated that already, But you have not backed it up with some explantion. arguments and esp. examples. I believe that anyone who hears this would need some explanation ...the problem is that our will is never free from determinants and constraints. — Truth Seeker
Well, this applies mainly to the body and maybe a little to the mind and consciousness. Moreover, it does not change the fact that if such a thing prevents free will and determines our thinking, decisions and actions, we are simple puppets, doing what our genes dictate, what they tell us to do or makes us do. Or like animals, we are at the mercy of our instincts. Even a cat looks more "alive" and free than that!Our wills are determined and constrained by our genes, environments from conception to the present, nutrients from conception to the present, and experiences from the womb to the present. — Truth Seeker
We can't change all determinants and constraints but we can change some determinants and constraints. It varies from person to person depending on their genes, environments from conception to the present, nutrients from conception to the present, and experiences from the womb to the present. I have not assessed how efficiently we deal with our determinants and constraints.
I don't know if Gods exist and if they are all-knowing and all-powerful. I am agnostic about the existence and nature of all Gods. Humans have believed in and still believe in many Gods. That does not mean that they exist. — Truth Seeker
I don't know if any god or goddess exists. I have never met any. I don't know what they are like except for how they are portrayed in religious books. — Truth Seeker
Would it be the only way that you could know the existence of Gods and Goddesses? No other ways?If God or Goddess or Gods or Goddesses made me all-knowing and all-powerful, I would be convinced that it is possible to be all-knowing and all-powerful and I would then know that God or Goddess or Gods or Goddesses exist and what God or Goddess or Gods or Goddesses are actually like. — Truth Seeker
Could it be the case you might have had prayed to the unreal or fake Gods, and there were no response for your prayer from them?I have studied most of the religions on Earth but not all of them. I have tried praying to many gods and goddesses. None of them answered my prayers. — Truth Seeker
have studied most of the religions on Earth but not all of them. I have tried praying to many gods and goddesses. None of them answered my prayers. — Truth Seeker
Could it be the case you might have had prayed to the unreal or fake Gods, and there were no response for your prayer from them? — Corvus
I don't know the answers to your questions because I have never met any God or Goddess or Gods or Goddesses. It's possible that they are all fictitious. I am agnostic about it. — Truth Seeker
So, though I am yet to be a reader or student of Wittgenstein, I've come across enough to say, and I paraphrase, that of which we cannot speak, we must remain silent. — ENOAH
However, if hard determinism is true, then it is inevitable that X murdered Y. In that case, X is not actually culpable. The actions of X are as determined and inevitable as death by an earthquake. We don't hold earthquakes culpable for murder, but we hold adult humans of sound mind culpable for murder. Should we though? — Truth Seeker
If hard determinism is true, then no one is morally culpable.
I am not sure if this follows. Consider a basic sketch of compatibalist free will as one's relative degree of self-determination: — Count Timothy von Icarus
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