Maybe this has come up before, but I still wanted to ask. Lately, I’ve been a bit confused about whether we really have free will or not. I’m not religious and I don’t really believe in metaphysics. I’d probably call myself agnostic. I’ve just been questioning life more than I used to, and this thought keeps popping into my head.

Do we actually have free will? Like, can we really choose things the way religious texts say we can? What made me think about this is how predictable the micro world seems to be—but when you go deeper into the quantum level, things get really chaotic and complex.

On top of that, as people, we’re constantly shaped by what we go through, and it feels like our reactions and choices get more limited over time.

What do you think about all this?

  • FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
    21·
    2 days ago

    Look at the works of B. F. Skinner

    Free will is an illusion, but it doesn’t need to invoke a deterministic universe or anything so esoteric

    The reality is that we’re born into societies that shape us. We can do great things with the personal agency that we have, but we will always be constrained by the things we’re taught, the things we’re not taught, and the world around us

    It’s neither good nor bad, it’s just a part of life. It’s all about what we choose to do that matters

    All we can do is our best

      • FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        You’re welcome

        There are many others with good ideas about free will, but the reality is that it doesn’t matter in the slightest. If we do have it, then we will act as we choose, if we don’t, then what we think we think we’re acting from choice

        The outcome is absolutely the same, it’s just whether or not we’re prepared to take responsibility for our choices

        It’s all unfalsafiable, so it’s in the realm of philosophy. There’s no evidence either way, so we may as well just be true to ourselves and enjoy the ride

          • FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
            1·
            2 days ago

            The irony is not lost on me,

            OP seems to be looking for concrete answers to some questions, which is impossible due to their very nature

        • coldaf@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          We share our ideas. I think that’s the way it should be. However, there are not many people around me who are interested in these issues, so I wanted to get the opinion of the internet, your opinion.