Do Atheists believe in free-will?

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by LuisDantas

Would it be fair to describe it then as some combination of responsibility and discernment?

Responsibility? I'm not sure I follow.

[LuisDantas]

Your definition was

Something like the ability to anticipate potential consequences and act accordingly. We can see possible futures and act to influence which one we experience, because we can choose which we find more desirable we have freedom. Something like that. I think.

The part in bold caught my attention. Choosing to act to influence the possible futures is taking responsibility, isn't it?

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by LuisDantas

Choosing to act to influence the possible futures is taking responsibility, isn't it?

Maybe. Is it important?

[Skwim]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

I'm not sure that an agent has to be free of causality to be free.

But if it isn't causality, then what is the will suppose to be free of?

For Christians it's an obligatory notion if sin/salvation is going to make any sense. Unfortunately, they rarely come up with an argument any better than, "Of course there's such a thing. We make choices don't we, and nothing is causing me to make the ones I do.

[LuisDantas]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

Maybe. Is it important?

I guess it is. I hadn't thought about the responsibility part before. But I'm still not convinced that Free Will is an useful, meaningful concept.

[Where Is God]

I am an atheist I guess and I do believe that humans have "free-will" (my definition is the ability to pick and choose which thoughts to think by utilizing self conscience).

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Skwim

But if it isn't causality, then what is the will suppose to be free of?

Inevitability.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by LuisDantas

I guess it is. I hadn't thought about the responsibility part before. But I'm still not convinced that Free Will is an useful, meaningful concept.

Neither am I, to be honest.

[LuisDantas]

Originally Posted by Where Is God

I am an atheist I guess and I do believe that humans have "free-will" (my definition is the ability to pick and choose which thoughts to think by utilizing self conscience).

But what is self conscience? And, perhaps most tricky of all, is it possible without some sort of divine intervention?

[Where Is God]

Originally Posted by LuisDantas

But what is self conscience? And, perhaps most tricky of all, is it possible without some sort of divine intervention?

It is to be aware of yourself and thoughts?

Yes, how, I can not explain. I am not a scientist.