Philosophy Now Forum

I like to run this sequence of statements through my head in an attempt to prove the absence of free will, so here goes:

1. I cannot consciously influence events that have taken place before the present moment.

2. I cannot consciously influence events that take place in the instantaneous present. (Since by the time I become aware of the present, time has elapsed and the moment slips into the past.

3. My future is comprised of an infinite series of instantaneous "snapshots" of the present.

4. Since I cannot consciously influence the present and the future is a function of the present I cannot consciously influence the future.

Therefore I have no free will.

Any insight appreciated.

jimmyboi wrote:I like to run this sequence of statements through my head in an attempt to prove the absence of free will, so here goes:

1. I cannot consciously influence events that have taken place before the present moment.

2. I cannot consciously influence events that take place in the instantaneous present. (Since by the time I become aware of the present, time has elapsed and the moment slips into the past.

3. My future is comprised of an infinite series of instantaneous "snapshots" of the present.

4. Since I cannot consciously influence the present and the future is a function of the present I cannot consciously influence the future.

Therefore I have no free will.

Any insight appreciated.

5. your conscious statements cannot consciously influence the past, the present and the future. cannot consciously touch it or see it. no conscious connection. no knowledge. no words. unspeakable.
6. your conscious statements can influence its infinite series of instantaneous "snapshots" of the unspeakable present as the "present", the "past present" and the "future present".
7. your conscious statements can influence only to other conscious statements. like "free will", "god", "science".

ask hume

-Imp

Impenitent wrote:ask hume

-Imp

why?

it's his dustbowl empiricism...

-Imp

Impenitent wrote:it's his dustbowl empiricism...

-Imp

Proof of predeterminism or not?
what did hume say?