Could you forgive someone who shot you?

Kevy Baby · 04-16-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Kevy Baby, you're just making the same point I am. You say it is free will because that is what you experience and that is good enough for you. I say it seems like free will but without an underpinning theoretical framework that explains how free will might exist I see no reason to assume it actually is. Unless and until something dramatically changes in our ability to observe and experiment on the universe, we'll never be able to differentiate the two.

If you are saying it is not free will because it cannot be proven that it is free will, and I am saying it is free will (a nebulous notion to be begin with) because it cannot be proven that it isn't, then yes, we are effectively making the same point.

innerSpaceman · 04-16-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

If you are saying it is not free will because it cannot be proven that it is free will, and I am saying it is free will ... because it cannot be proven that it isn't, then yes, we are effectively making the same point.

Which begs the question, why go to the (imo morbidly pessimistic) extreme of assuming that there is no human free will?

Perhaps the answer can be found in the differing experiences expressed thus far in this thread.

Alex · 04-16-2006, 12:44 PM

I don't see what is pessimistic about it (or morbid for that matter). But it is the different worldviews I was talking about somewhere around here. Lacking evidence most people are perfectly happy to pick an explanation they like and assume it true. I don't seem to work that way.

Lacking evidence of free will I see no reason to assume it. I don't expect many people to agree with me but to me it is the same as saying since I can't prove it doesn't exist I'm going to believe that somewhere is a pair of jeans with a front left pocket that is magically always filled with money, and if I believe in it hard enough and search for it long enough I will eventually be a very rich man. After all, while there is no evidence such a thing exists, I also can't prove definitely it doesn't, so I'll pick the option that makes me happiest.

I know those two things are likely completely different to you, but not so much to me.

View Poll Results: Could you forgive someone who shot you?
Yes	6	35.29%
No	2	11.76%
Maybe	2	11.76%
I Don't Know	7	41.18%
Other (See Below)	0	0%
Voters: 17. You may not vote on this poll

04-16-2006, 12:44 PM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I don't see what is pessimistic about it (or morbid for that matter). But it is the different worldviews I was talking about somewhere around here. Lacking evidence most people are perfectly happy to pick an explanation they like and assume it true. I don't seem to work that way. Lacking evidence of free will I see no reason to assume it. I don't expect many people to agree with me but to me it is the same as saying since I can't prove it doesn't exist I'm going to believe that somewhere is a pair of jeans with a front left pocket that is magically always filled with money, and if I believe in it hard enough and search for it long enough I will eventually be a very rich man. After all, while there is no evidence such a thing exists, I also can't prove definitely it doesn't, so I'll pick the option that makes me happiest. I know those two things are likely completely different to you, but not so much to me.
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