[sgt101]

I choose thoughts - I can conjour images, or scenes into my mind. I can choose not to think about things.

In fact, this is a proof of free will. If you were compelled to consider the consequences of your actions then evil would be impossible. The fact that we see evil means that people can choose not to think about what will happen when they do evil things.

[tasty_freeze]

As the famous quote goes, you are free to choose, but you aren't free to choose what you choose.

Unpacking: assuming you aren't coerced, you choose one of N options "freely". But all the factors (many inscrutable) that contribute to the ultimate choice are predetermined from your biology to all your lived experience (which ultimately is encoded in your brain in some manner).

Sam Harris has a short (7 minute) video with a demonstration of this. The demonstration starts about 1:20 in, but it is worth watching the minute setup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXTEmu-jUqA

[dwaltrip]

I think, at this point, if someone says free will exists, beyond mere compatibilism, it should be required that they very carefully specify what the hell they are talking about.

P.s. Am I wrong for assuming that whenever someone talks about free will without mentioning compatiblism, they most likely talking about some other form?

[EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK]

One of the many contradictions in a religion is that a sinner could claim "God is all powerful, so he made me do that sin". So early religious thinkers had to make an exception for something that God has no power on, and called it "free will".

What's your definition?

[maxdoop]

What will your next thought be? Think of a movie — why did that movie arise in your mind?

It’s an illusion but that doesn’t negate we must operate as though our will is free!

[drdeca]

What do you mean by “as though our will is free” when you say that “we must operate as though our will is free”?

[sgt101]

This is at the heart of it.

[lostmsu]

Not really, the decision to choose a particular thought first comes into your mind the way above comment says.

[sgt101]

Really - to state otherwise is just a play on words.

Think carefully. Think friend, think.