by Sovereign Slave » Mon Feb 05, 2018 8:31 pm
Touche, jtb, for throwing my moniker back in my face, as is appropriate for this discussion. My suspicion is that as with Sovereign Slave, free will at it’s heart is a dichotomy, though I also suspect that most things that can be labeled as True actually are dichotomies.
But thanks for providing some definitions. Seems to make sense to start with your definition of “will” first: “That faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or forbear an action; the faculty which is exercised in deciding, among two or more objects, which we shall embrace or pursue.” Seems it’s saying one function of the mind gives us the capability to act and decide or not. So, if we are capable of determining, by extension we must also be “free” to make determinations, or we would never act or decide on anything. So in that sense I’d say our will is free, or at least capable of being free.
However, if we look at the definition of “free:” “not being under necessity or restraint, physical or moral,” and put it in front of “will,” who can really claim to be able to make determinations totally independent of necessity or restraint? Seems there are an infinite number of factors that can both influence and limit our ability to exercise our will, everything from ingrained and/or programmed beliefs, limited knowledge and experience, fears, misconceptions, habits, pier pressure, cravings and addictions, outside forces, on and on. The list of necessities and restraints is probably infinite.
So, the will is by definition quite capable of making choices and decisions (and pretty much constantly does), but is it capable of doing so without necessities or restraints? Doesn’t seem like it, at least not for most people most of the time. On the other hand, the other part of the definition of “will” is: “The will is directed or influenced by the judgment.” So, in addition to whatever other necessities or restraints that may be influencing the will at any given time, it is still directed or influenced by judgement, which is defined as: “the forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind.” So though the will may never be totally free, the fact that we are able to apply judgement in the exercise of will would seem to contradict the will being COMPLETELY subjected to constraints, or predestination, or mechanistic override.
My hunch is that, much like electricity, free will is scalable.
Ok, got to go, cheesecake run.