http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/ Your last stop before eternal enlightenment Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:12:03 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-12590 Spoonman Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:43:02 +0000 http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/#comment-12590 Are they really chance, though? If you go back, every event is tied to every event that preceded it, and given sufficient knowledge of the variables involved you can predict precisely what is going to happen next. They simply seem random because we're incapable of contemplating all of the variables involved. Are they really chance, though? If you go back, every event is tied to every event that preceded it, and given sufficient knowledge of the variables involved you can predict precisely what is going to happen next. They simply seem random because we’re incapable of contemplating all of the variables involved.

]]> http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-12537 Mike Deuerling Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:35:16 +0000 http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/#comment-12537 The mechanism of willpower is determined by the operation of natural laws (behaviorism); but the development of the mechanism is programmed by chance events that occur in our lives. The mechanism of willpower is determined by the operation of natural laws (behaviorism); but the development of the mechanism is programmed by chance events that occur in our lives.

]]> http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-12505 The Barefoot Bum Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:47:01 +0000 http://www.irreligion.org/2008/08/20/free-will-vs-the-programmed-brain/#comment-12505 Part of the problem is that "free will" as a philosophical concept is undefined. Given that both a causal account and a random account <i>both</i> are taken to undermine "free will", it is difficult to understand what kind of account would <i>support</i> the concept. Part of the problem is that “free will” as a philosophical concept is undefined. Given that both a causal account and a random account both are taken to undermine “free will”, it is difficult to understand what kind of account would support the concept.

]]>