1)Free will influences illogical and immoral decisions made by human beings.
Disagree. Free will gives one a profound sense of responsibility, which prevents us from misusing it.
2)Human lives are without consequence or meaning.
Agree. On the whole, a single human life does not significantly affect the universe; it only influences a tiny and enclosed environment.
3)Free will is an illusion that only exists on Earth to make people believe that they could do what they want rather then what they must.
Agree. Our society has forged an iron path for every human life, one that cannot be spurned unless at great cost. True freedom is not being able to do what you want; it is being able to choose what is best, to do what you must.
4)You get disapointed by the person who you would never think that would let you down.
Disagree. This is too specific.
5)Free will is just a fictitious idea created by human beings; the liberty to be able to choose what we do and what happens to us is not under our own control, but under the control of something beyond our power.
Agree, to a certain extent. This certainly applies to a range of modern societies, but exceptions always occur.
6)The commonly accepted human perspective is not the only way that life can be viewed.
Agree. Humans follow their forebears in making life choices; templates are set out for us. this is exactly why hermits are so cool.
7)Being uninformed is the only way to enjoy your life
Agree; ignorance is bliss. But then again, knowledge is power, and power may bring pleasure and satisfaction. Question of choices.
8)Slaughterhouse 5 deals with acceptance, fate and free will and time and memory
Agree.
9)Life is only worth living when you don’t know everything about your future – "ignorance is bliss".
Agree.
10)War affects society in most horrific ways and rarely serves it good.
Agree. This is universally accepted.
11)Aliens can’t change their fates and future, instead they concentrate upon moments in their lives, as life is more amusing with the unknowns.
Disagree. Aliens have not been proven to exist.
12)People tend to become fatalistic if they acquire more knowledge than they should know and they can handle.
Disagree. Most people tend to take things less seriously as they gain more knowledge, as they come to terms with their insignificance.
13)A war may have a huge influence on people's fate
Agree. Example: death.
Prompt response: “Free will is an illusion that only exists on Earth to make people believe that they could do what they want rather than what they must.”
To properly respond to this statement, with all the high philosophy it requires, we need to define the concept of free will. It is the notion that, as sentient beings, we have the right and the ability to choose whichever paths for our lives as we please, and to make the decisions we think are best for us and our environment, on a daily basis as well as on a larger, life-spanning level.
Free will has been around as an idea for some time, and in certain select civilisations even applied to a certain degree, but until recently very few countries allowed the notion to be part of everyday life. It appeared as the need for strength and security within a group dwindled: in prehistoric times, unity was strength, and individuality did not exist because it meant death. As those risks disappeared over time, humans looked for independence. It is a concept that is closely linked with democracy; in order for our definition of the term to work, every individual within a society needs to have the same rights and privileges. However, free will in itself is contradicted by another aspect of democracy and societies in general: laws. They define what we may and what we may not do, which goes against the whole idea of free will. Who has the right to make laws? If they have such authority, then they are not on the same level as other individuals, therefore their own will overrules other people’s. Democracy is a beautiful idea, but realistically improbable. The same occurs with free will. Humans want individuality and freedom, but at the same time they seek the comfort and security of a community. the community needs order, and members must put the group’s interests before their own for the system to work. Thus, free will is rendered obsolete by the fact that our instincts push us to live in society.
Disagree. Free will gives one a profound sense of responsibility, which prevents us from misusing it.
2)Human lives are without consequence or meaning.
Agree. On the whole, a single human life does not significantly affect the universe; it only influences a tiny and enclosed environment.
3)Free will is an illusion that only exists on Earth to make people believe that they could do what they want rather then what they must.
Agree. Our society has forged an iron path for every human life, one that cannot be spurned unless at great cost. True freedom is not being able to do what you want; it is being able to choose what is best, to do what you must.
4)You get disapointed by the person who you would never think that would let you down.
Disagree. This is too specific.
5)Free will is just a fictitious idea created by human beings; the liberty to be able to choose what we do and what happens to us is not under our own control, but under the control of something beyond our power.
Agree, to a certain extent. This certainly applies to a range of modern societies, but exceptions always occur.
6)The commonly accepted human perspective is not the only way that life can be viewed.
Agree. Humans follow their forebears in making life choices; templates are set out for us. this is exactly why hermits are so cool.
7)Being uninformed is the only way to enjoy your life
Agree; ignorance is bliss. But then again, knowledge is power, and power may bring pleasure and satisfaction. Question of choices.
8)Slaughterhouse 5 deals with acceptance, fate and free will and time and memory
Agree.
9)Life is only worth living when you don’t know everything about your future – "ignorance is bliss".
Agree.
10)War affects society in most horrific ways and rarely serves it good.
Agree. This is universally accepted.
11)Aliens can’t change their fates and future, instead they concentrate upon moments in their lives, as life is more amusing with the unknowns.
Disagree. Aliens have not been proven to exist.
12)People tend to become fatalistic if they acquire more knowledge than they should know and they can handle.
Disagree. Most people tend to take things less seriously as they gain more knowledge, as they come to terms with their insignificance.
13)A war may have a huge influence on people's fate
Agree. Example: death.
Prompt response: “Free will is an illusion that only exists on Earth to make people believe that they could do what they want rather than what they must.”
To properly respond to this statement, with all the high philosophy it requires, we need to define the concept of free will. It is the notion that, as sentient beings, we have the right and the ability to choose whichever paths for our lives as we please, and to make the decisions we think are best for us and our environment, on a daily basis as well as on a larger, life-spanning level.
Free will has been around as an idea for some time, and in certain select civilisations even applied to a certain degree, but until recently very few countries allowed the notion to be part of everyday life. It appeared as the need for strength and security within a group dwindled: in prehistoric times, unity was strength, and individuality did not exist because it meant death. As those risks disappeared over time, humans looked for independence. It is a concept that is closely linked with democracy; in order for our definition of the term to work, every individual within a society needs to have the same rights and privileges. However, free will in itself is contradicted by another aspect of democracy and societies in general: laws. They define what we may and what we may not do, which goes against the whole idea of free will. Who has the right to make laws? If they have such authority, then they are not on the same level as other individuals, therefore their own will overrules other people’s. Democracy is a beautiful idea, but realistically improbable. The same occurs with free will. Humans want individuality and freedom, but at the same time they seek the comfort and security of a community. the community needs order, and members must put the group’s interests before their own for the system to work. Thus, free will is rendered obsolete by the fact that our instincts push us to live in society.
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