| A few notes. I was discussing this with a Philosopher (David Fenner, he's a Ford Fellow, actually), and he pointed out something that I feel is important to this discussion: Free Will isn't an argument over whether there is an outside force controlling us, but about whether we have meaningful internal control.
I believe we do, and that as much as what we do is determined by movements around us, we also have the ability to move without cause. That means moving intelligently, and yes I phrased it like that purposely (Aquinas). I believe that is what's meant when they refer to God creating us in His image, at least in part. He is the uncaused effect, and through mechanisms I don't want to discuss here, he has given us the power to effect a radius of reaily around us without cause. This can be termed "free will."
Edit:
I phrased the second to last sentance like that for effect, but you can replace the last word, "cause," with "compulsion" and be more exact. |