Today, I had a debate with an adversary. He claimed that free will is possible based on the following:
Picture a cell. This cell could move based on nothing. This cell does not need a cause to move. A reaction is not necessary. Therefore, the cells of the mind could work without causes, leaving them free.
My initial reaction was to say that physics do not allow this happen. As far as all observation is concerned, this is impossible.
He then went on to recall how I have said numerous times that it is as absurd to believe in "god" as it is to say that "god" definitely does not exist. His point was that you can't rule it out as an incomprehensible possibility.
I decided to avoid the practicality argument and attack his point directly. After all, I've dealt with people who bring up newer theories like chaos theory in order to consider the free will, which are similar. So, I decided to assume, hypothetically, that the cells of the mind did not need causes to move.
If this were true, the cells would be moving without any kind of conscious deliberation. In what way would un-"motivated" movements by cells give us the power of "choice"? You see, the idea of a free will still insists on the ability to make a free decision. But, if cells are moving without any kind of motivating process, there is no choice in this. You see, the commonly held ideas of choice, of free will, are very flawed. Free choice is an oxymoron, and cannot exist in nature.
Freedom
Freedom is to be understood as the deliberation that leads to a desire quenching action. The deliberation is to be understood as a series of causal relationships (reactions). Ultimately, the desire is the result of the brain's inbred attractions to reproduction and survival. However, as there are many actions taken that are dependent on the consciousness' interpretation of the addicting chemicals prevalent in acquiring both reproduction and survival, the desire is essentially created by the limiting factors of "freedom". The factors include -
-Genetic disposition
Anything that consists of an addiction that was not caused by an outside event. Genetic disposition does not include natural reactions that take place on account of an outside event. They can be very specific, or very general.
-"Labels"
What I call "labels" is second only to genetic disposition as far as apparent influence. A "label" is to be understood as anything that represents a thought. Every word is a label, but not every label is a word. A label can also be a painting, an action, or any kind of motivated representation. Every society is essentially representatively within the bounds of the established label group. While two independent societies may both have the label group association for the color "blue", the way each society connects the idea will always be different. It's difficult to communicate the idea of label understanding outside the scope of pre-understood labels because you're using them to communicate the idea. While language has a large part in determining label groups, there are many other cultural contexts that play a part in doing so. While all of the Latin based languages may share similar label groups because they've conformed to pre-existing connections between different ideas, other cultural events throughout history will lead to each individual society to understand things differently. While this idea can apply from governed state to governed state, it's much more prevalent and apparent amongst groups with different languages. The understanding of how this affects your desire creation is very necessary in determining some of the causes of subconscious yearning. I'd like to make my next post on the wide variety of "labels" and how they can affect people in order to possibly make some new connections. Also, labels can consist of sentences and statements. Anything that may attach to a pre-conceived notion (so almost anything, including pre-conceived notions)
- Natural disposition
This is to be understood as the natural favorings of your biological mechanism based purely on outside, physical events that have happened. Not entirely separate from labels, but labels essentially govern the experience of your natural disposition. Something entirely caused by an outside, or presumed to be physical change of the environment surrounding you.
As I can discern more influences, whether or not they are of higher importance, I will continue this list.
-Genetic disposition
Anything that consists of an addiction that was not caused by an outside event. Genetic disposition does not include natural reactions that take place on account of an outside event. They can be very specific, or very general.
-"Labels"
What I call "labels" is second only to genetic disposition as far as apparent influence. A "label" is to be understood as anything that represents a thought. Every word is a label, but not every label is a word. A label can also be a painting, an action, or any kind of motivated representation. Every society is essentially representatively within the bounds of the established label group. While two independent societies may both have the label group association for the color "blue", the way each society connects the idea will always be different. It's difficult to communicate the idea of label understanding outside the scope of pre-understood labels because you're using them to communicate the idea. While language has a large part in determining label groups, there are many other cultural contexts that play a part in doing so. While all of the Latin based languages may share similar label groups because they've conformed to pre-existing connections between different ideas, other cultural events throughout history will lead to each individual society to understand things differently. While this idea can apply from governed state to governed state, it's much more prevalent and apparent amongst groups with different languages. The understanding of how this affects your desire creation is very necessary in determining some of the causes of subconscious yearning. I'd like to make my next post on the wide variety of "labels" and how they can affect people in order to possibly make some new connections. Also, labels can consist of sentences and statements. Anything that may attach to a pre-conceived notion (so almost anything, including pre-conceived notions)
- Natural disposition
This is to be understood as the natural favorings of your biological mechanism based purely on outside, physical events that have happened. Not entirely separate from labels, but labels essentially govern the experience of your natural disposition. Something entirely caused by an outside, or presumed to be physical change of the environment surrounding you.
As I can discern more influences, whether or not they are of higher importance, I will continue this list.
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