Quote:
Originally Posted by InJoy  [Free will is] the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies
[Choice is] the act of choosing or selecting |
First response is off-topic. Dictionaries annoy me when talking about definitions. See
this video for more information.
Now, more directly,
Choice is, we can agree, the act of choosing or selecting. Substituting its definition into the definition of free will, we get "the power of making free actions of choosing or selecting unconstrained by external agencies".
I have two problems with this.
1) "choice" was not the only inexact term used in the original definition. "unconstrained" is also undefined, as is "external" and "agency", which are separate concepts. Furthermore, "power" remains undefined. I'm sure that we can reach mutually agreeable definitions to each of these terms, but right now, they're undefined because we haven't agreed.
2) If choice is the act of choosing or selecting, there are two questions the demand answering. One is, "Choosing or selecting from what set of possible options?" The other is, "Choosing or selecting on what basis?"
Quote:
Originally Posted by InJoy To me, free will is the ability to choose freely, even randomly, whenever I want. |
1) Define "freedom"?
2) Define "random"?
3) Define "I"?
4) Define "want"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by InJoy It would be impossible to predict with 100% accuracy what's going to happen tomorrow because people (at least) have the ability to change their minds and actions at will. |
Define "will"?
Please don't feel obligated to respond to every little point I'm making in this post; I'd be fine with working with smaller bite-size pieces at a time.