[shunyadragon]

Quote by: The Bacon Guy What knowledge leads to the conclusion that free will exists?

Considerable, the question comes as to what degree free will exists. Determinism vs. Liberatarianism represents the extreme cases where both ends of the spectrum are unrealistic alternatives. In reality we are neither automatons nor are we 'anything goes' random decision makers. Soft determinism, where freewill choices occur within the realms of situations where many factors partially determine the decision making process, is more realistic to explain the variability of individual choices in reality.

An interesting recent movie that gives some insight into the nature of determinism and free will is Pan's Labyrinth is a good watch.

Given freewill just means that there are situations that a choice is not decided for us totally by other factors, and we have a choice of one or more options. We may or may not give the choices much thought, or we may weigh the options and make a choice only to change our mind later and decide differently. People's decisions are under the influence of so many factors, and the result is not predicable as Plato's best choice, nor controled by personal desire as Aristotle may propose. Self-justification often creaps in sometimes and determines many cliff hangers, and that comes down to the fact that we are ulitimately responsible.

To be immoble on two feet, means to determine yes or no.

the Vedas