The Rage Against the Machine Message Forum

free will

Posted By Young Republican On Wed, Jun 27th At 9:25 PM

Does anyone here really think they have free will?
People are biological organisms made up of
protons, electrons, and neutrons. Our mental
processes (however comples) are only a chemical
reaction to stimuli and electrical signals. This
being the case aren't our actions predetermined
by the physical and biological makeup of
ourselves, our surroundings, and our mental
state? How can we really claim to have free will
over our actions when they are only an intricate
biological process.
Think about it. I'm not saying that people have no
conciousness or soul or can't think or something.
I'm merely saying that these thoughts are not
conciously alterable. As you are reading these
words your mind is thinking something, but it is
not truely in your control what you will think or
how you will react to the stimuli.
This said, how can we justly punish people for
their actions which are only a complex biological
reaction created by their surroundings and
conditioning. Even if you try to suppress an
emotion in your mind, the desire to suppress that
emotion is a desire that has arisin from
scientifically explainable processes and
electo-chemical impulses.
How can people be held responsible for their
actions when free will is a myth?

free will - Young Republican Wed, Jun 27th At 9:25 PM (27)
- Hmmm.... - Dorico Wed, Jun 27th At 11:35 PM (6)
  - Re: Hmmm.... - Young Republican Wed, Jun 27th At 11:42 PM (5)
    - Re: Hmmm.... - Joe Thu, Jun 28th At 12:14 AM (2)
      - Re: Hmmm.... - Young Republican Thu, Jun 28th At 12:21 AM (1)
        Re: Hmmm.... - Joe Thu, Jun 28th At 11:59 AM (0)
    - Well... - Dorico Fri, Jun 29th At 7:17 PM (1)
      - Re: Well... - Young ??????? Fri, Jun 29th At 9:31 PM (0)
- Re: free will - Joe Wed, Jun 27th At 11:38 PM (7)
  - Re: free will - Young Republican Wed, Jun 27th At 11:42 PM (6)
    - Re: free will - Joe Wed, Jun 27th At 11:45 PM (4)
      - Re: free will - Young Republican Wed, Jun 27th At 11:49 PM (3)
        Re: free will - Joe Thu, Jun 28th At 12:18 AM (2)
        Re: free will - Young Republican Thu, Jun 28th At 12:32 AM (1)
        Re: free will - Joe Thu, Jun 28th At 12:03 PM (0)
    - Because we get imped a lot. - (really) EFF Thu, Jun 28th At 10:46 AM (0)
- How can you call yourself a Young Republican - (really) EFF Thu, Jun 28th At 10:42 AM (8)
  - previously posted, intended for EFF - Young anarcho-socail-neo-quasi-liberal-republican Thu, Jun 28th At 12:12 PM (0)
  - what's in a name? - Young Republican Thu, Jun 28th At 12:12 PM (6)
    - Um.... - (really)EFF Thu, Jun 28th At 2:03 PM (5)
      - ever think? - Young Republican Thu, Jun 28th At 2:55 PM (4)
        Pfff.... - (really)EFF Thu, Jun 28th At 3:35 PM (3)
        Re: Pfff.... - Young Republican Thu, Jun 28th At 6:15 PM (2)
        you should run for office - stuart little Thu, Jun 28th At 10:13 PM (1)
        Re: you should run for office - Young Republican Fri, Jun 29th At 2:28 PM (0)
- Re: free will - Steve Sun, Jul 1st At 11:05 AM (1)
  - Re: free will - Young Republican Sun, Jul 1st At 4:03 PM (0)
- Re: free will - negative creep Mon, Jul 2nd At 6:14 AM (0)


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>Does anyone here really think they have free > will? People are biological organisms made up > of protons, electrons, and neutrons. Our mental > processes (however comples) are only a chemical > reaction to stimuli and electrical signals. > This being the case aren't our actions > predetermined by the physical and biological > makeup of ourselves, our surroundings, and our > mental state? How can we really claim to have > free will over our actions when they are only > an intricate biological process. >Think about it. I'm not saying that people have > no conciousness or soul or can't think or > something. I'm merely saying that these > thoughts are not conciously alterable. As you > are reading these words your mind is thinking > something, but it is not truely in your control > what you will think or how you will react to > the stimuli. >This said, how can we justly punish people for > their actions which are only a complex > biological reaction created by their > surroundings and conditioning. Even if you try > to suppress an emotion in your mind, the desire > to suppress that emotion is a desire that has > arisin from scientifically explainable > processes and electo-chemical impulses. >How can people be held responsible for their >actions when free will is a myth?
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