sparkles666

okay...I'm new here but thought this would be the best place to post this question. I don't know if this is the right forum for this but I didn't think it fit in any other place. I was talking the other day to a friend of mine about omniscience and free will being incompatible. Then it dawned on me that I am not really sure as to what free will really is. I understand the definition but here is my problem. It seems to me free will involves decision making. And most decisions I can think of are made after considering the options. The choice is usually made on either past experience or logic. So it would seem that all the choices you make in life are based on something right?...something always causes you to choose A over B or vice versa. So it would seem to me that choices in life are guided by past experiences or logic. Therefore when a christian argues that we all have free will to choose to believe in Jesus, I say why haven't I been given the same stimulus or circumstances to make the choice to believe that he or she has have. So I guess my question would be does true free will exist. This is actually one of the reasons I'm an atheist to begin with. Anyway, I hadn't read anything relating to this at all and wanted some opions. If you have any links that I should read please post them. This is really a developing thought in my head so any input would be appreciated.

Mageth

Welcome to II, sparkles666!

It seems to me free will involves decision making. And most decisions I can think of are made after considering the options. The choice is usually made on either past experience or logic. So it would seem that all the choices you make in life are based on something right?...something always causes you to choose A over B or vice versa. So it would seem to me that choices in life are guided by past experiences or logic. Therefore when a christian argues that we all have free will to choose to believe in Jesus, I say why haven't I been given the same stimulus or circumstances to make the choice to believe that he or she has have. So I guess my question would be does true free will exist.

I think you've hit the proverbial nail on the head. You might want to do a little research on determinism, which seems to be the direction you're leaning.

And yes, there have been numerous threads on free will on this board (it's one of the most popular topics). Perhaps someone with the inclination will post a few for you to review. Or you could use our search function to search for threads dealing with "free will."

xeren

Hey sparkles666,

any time anyone asks for resources on free will, i always post my favorite essay on it by the rather well known philosopher Galen Strawson:
Luck and Free Will

Enjoy!