I guess you mean that if I have the knowledge to build a bridge, it makes it easier for me to cross the river, and so I'm more free? — frank
It sounds like you're equating freedom with potential. That's an interesting take. — frank
How do you mean exactly? Certainly, I'm construing it within the composite framework of the subject-object system. As such, it is measurable and quantifiable. More radically, I think it may be a feature that is "conferred" by subjectivity on the system. But it is still in evidence as a systemic feature. — Pantagruel
I think this issue is good for revealing how people think and what biases they have. Notice how each participant in this thread has their own take on what it means. — frank
Perhaps free will and determinism both exist as a mutual duality/ neccessary dichotomy — Benj96
Subjective experience, yes. We all have this. It's sufficient to convince us - to the point of basing all our institutions on it. We cannot do otherwise.The proof isn't in the institutions, it is in my immediate perceptions. — Pantagruel
Does anyone? — Vera Mont
The evidence is so overwhelmingly on the side of freedom of will (it is the basis of all law, qua responsibility for actions, which is the foundation of civilization) that the burden of proof is certainly on the side of the unfree.... — Pantagruel
That is exactly what I would say, but not for that reason. I agree with this point completely, and since I have mentioned the difficulties of defining free will, I will define a lack of free will instead.Conversely, you can prove the existence of free will by proving that it is impossible to construct such app. Hence, the existence of free will is a mathematical problem. It is effectively about an incompleteness proof. — Tarskian
Maybe a little bit? I sort of believe in causal (or soft or whatever) determinism, but whether everything is causal (which it seems to be) is not actually as significant of a question as the others in the free will discussion.I take it you're a compatibilist? — flannel jesus
that their actions are the consequence of things like "physics" happening - things which their will has no control over. — flannel jesus
Maybe a little bit? I sort of believe in causal (or soft or whatever) determinism, but whether everything is causal (which it seems to be) is not actually as significant of a question as the others in the free will discussion. — Igitur
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