Nimos
Well-Known Member
Agree, but this is where I raise the question.A string of influences, yes. But as conscious agents, we have, it appears self-evident, some agency over how we respond to those influences.
I might have a morbid dread of the beach (let’s say I was once attacked by a shark), but still choose to go there. It may take a supreme effort of will to do so, but perhaps I have sufficient motivation to overcome my reluctance; maybe just to prove to myself that I can overcome my fears.
Why do you want to overcome your fear?
At some level, there must be emotional reasons for it. If there wasn't then you probably wouldn't care about the experience in the first place or even to overcome your fear.
Maybe that is what free will really is. Meaning we don't really have free will in the sense we think, but rather we have the ability to suppress influences. This could potentially also explain how free will could evolve from what I can see, or rather the ability to suppress influences given the capacity of our brain compared to early humans, and therefore we became better at it.