Tenacious: This is essentially my argument:

1)Humans are the result of two things. Their genetic makeup, and social interaction with others. 2)These two things are beyond our control. 3)In life, we develop a sort of computer program that dictates our behavior (which is ever changing and adjusting itself in accordance to new experiences). We will always act in accordance to that program at any one time, under a particular set of conditions. ie) you will act in a manner you believe consistent with your own set of ethics and values (socially determined or environmental), even if these conflict with our animal urges (genetic). The complexity of how these two things interact gives the illusion of free will.

Greg: You are giving environmental, social, and genetic makeup too much credit and mankind's ability to deal with them too little credit. These things may influence our Free-Will, but they do not deprive us of it. All the plausible choices in any given situation simply exist, and while the factors that you speak of may undoubtably influence the choices we make, it is still available to us to make those choices of our own Free-Will. Social interactions themselves are based upon previous Free-Will choices that we have made. We make friends, with whomever is willing, of their own Free-Will, to make friends with us. This ultimately develops into an environment of clique and outcast. While involvement in either environment may persist throughout ones developmental years, the nature of the influence of such an environment is unlikely to persist for very long in the environment of adulthood. The arrogance of those in the clique is usually humbled by their inexperience in the workplace, while feelings of inadequacy common to the outcast are replaced with renewed confidence as they develop new skills. Much of this is a prelude to the choice one makes in finding a mate. If you have ANY experience in this area, you have noticed that women are not necessarily impelled to consider any man for any particular reason, though they may consider any man for every particular reason. The Captain of the Football team seldom actually marries a cheerleader, and the Queen of the Prom might actually marry the biggest geek in town. That, my friend, is Free-Will. :o)

• I'm a bourbon lover myself - tenacious - October 6, 1999 - 19:53 UTC
  • Re: I'm a bourbon lover myself - Greg_Armel/">Greg Armel - October 6, 1999 - 20:33 UTC
    • But now, we may begin anew... - tenacious - October 6, 1999 - 20:58 UTC
• Oh goody - tenacious - October 6, 1999 - 20:03 UTC
• There is instinct and free will in all life (ratio varies) - Phil.o.sofir - October 7, 1999 - 03:04 UTC
  • Re: There is instinct and free will in all life (ratio varies) - tenacious - October 8, 1999 - 00:59 UTC
    • I am very happy to hear that I am not the only one! - Phil.o.sofir - October 9, 1999 - 01:04 UTC