Is free will an illusion, or do we truly have control over our choices?

[Leenah_1]

[DrPepper12]

I think we have as much free will as genetics, evolution, and our environment permit us to have. Living cooperative existences in civilization as opposed to in isolation further constrain free will (and I think create further paradoxes) although we don't like to acknowledge that ugly fact. Just the same, yes there is free will... Rush said so! ♥️ Rush!!

FREEWILL
There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance
A planet of playthings, we dance on the strings of powers we cannot perceive
The stars aren't aligned or the Gods are malign, blame is better to give than receive

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose Freewill

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand
The cards were stacked against them they weren't born in Lotus Land
All preordained, a prisoner in chains, a victim of venomous fate
Kicked in the face, you can pray for a place, in heaven's unearthly estate

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose Freewill

Each of us, a cell of awareness, imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends with uncertain ends on a fortune hunt that's far too fleet

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose Freewill

[Tarifa]

I think we have control over ourselves to some extent. Ultimately, we all have to use the cards we are dealt. We can be born with a good or a bad hand, but what we do is up to us.

Realistically, our choices can only carry us so far, especially those of us that aren't given many choices from the beginning. Successful people often become that way through pure luck rather than any consequence of their own making. Our everyday lives are guided by dozens of factors that we have no power over.

That doesn’t mean you just have to accept your lot in life. I do believe in climbing up the social ladder. Be it studies or work, you have certain options that you can grab with both hands. Nothing is served on a silver plate though. You’ll have to put in all the effort you can to achieve your goals. But knowing what you can achieve and what you’ll never be able to achieve is the best way to go about it. Know yourself, know your limitations and your strengths.

[Clara4567]

We have free will, without it we would be like the people of the dystopia novel 1984 by Orwell.

But unfortunately there are still people who don't have it.

[Clara4567]

Thanks for MH

[Jennz6]

No free will for me, I think it’s all an illusion

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

You would think free will is a choice?

[Kaneki05]

Free will is more like you have a multiple answer question with 3 responses, now you can respond 3 different ways but not a 4th. So is that truly free will? Not really.
We are limited by physical law along with our psychology, humans when they go to act they already thought about acting that way before they did it so there is also that to add in.
Then there are people who have issues so their 3 responses becomes 1 or 2 lacking self control for the 3rd.

So no I don't consider free will to be a real thing in a way. Afterall who I am is thanks to how I grew up and how I act is due to that to. I mean my very existence in the first place wasn't my choice.
But I do have the capability of responding in different ways upon the context which is my choice though again going to be affected by whom I already am and what choice I was already likely to make anyway.

[Lurix]

So, about free will, it’s a big debate. Some people think it’s just an illusion and that our choices are shaped by things like our upbringing and environment. Others believe we really do have control over our decisions and can make choices based on what we want.


It’s kind of a mix, honestly. We’re influenced by a lot, but we can still make our own calls. It just depends on how you see it!

[nolabels]

That seems to be a popular topic these days.

I'm of the opinion that we possess free will, although previous experiences can influence present choices.
We still make choices, though.

There are those who might say that present choices are fully controlled whether we think they are or not.

As I'm not a contemplator of my navel, I'll continue believing as I do.

Cheers.

[strateguy632]

Imagine in court.

Someone got accused of murder.

He tells judge "no free will. it is an illusion i had to do it , so not my fault"?

[Tomisworthless]

God gave us the freedom to love him, or reject him. We have free will God gives us what we want. What I mean is look at Pharoah of Egypt, not only did he harden his heart but the Lord did too. This implies the King was determined to oppose the Exodus therefore God made certain that after every plague Pharoah would double down. Its his free will, but at the same time plays into Gods plan.

[ChicoFromThe305]

We do have free will, if we didn't then everyone would be forced to do the right thing and there wouldn't be any crime for example

[Finchie40]

We all have freewill and control over our own choices and decisions we just don’t have any control over someone else’s choices and decisions. But We all suffer consequences of our own actions.

[fuddly]

There is scientific evidence we humans are merely computers.. Programmed to act in certain ways... So in that argument we are programmed and didn't have free will.


Not saying I agree with that!

[TheSpaceGnome]

Our body has control over our choices, but you are your body, so you have control.

People always talk about their body as if its separate from themselves, and thats where the misconception starts.

[exitseven]

In boyfriend Skinners book "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" he says freedom is an illusion. Free will is the same

[LunarEclipse433]

You have total control over most choices. Some you don’t

[kellytheman]

I think we do have control of are choices but they do get influenced by people and society and we choose what people be more positively about your choices.

[AmeerX]

We have control in terms of effort we put but some things are not achievable with effort or Will Alone.

[strateguy632]

Superb! 🏅

[Dongie]

Test it out. Go do something you wouldn't normally do.

[Bẽllã3]

It depends, some people have free will, some people don’t

[DJB72]

We have control, we've just been programmed to ignore it in the name of convenience

[noohair]

The only person that we have any chance of changing is ourselves.

[negrl4a69]

You always make ur own choices its up to u if there good or bad

[Sicboi]

It's REALLY REAL. The idea of Authority is an illusion

[Sevenpointfive]

i'm not brainwashed.

[FunkyMonkee]

No illusion. We are in charge.

[OtterMan68]

we have free will.

[eagle1951]

i control what i do

[CubaPirate]

No choice we're moulded by a higher force

[shortster]

We have free will.