Is the fact that others can be harmed proof of Free Will?

[SabahTheLoner]

- Humans don’t like to harm other humans
- All humans should attempt to avoid conflict
- Conflict exists and is frequent
- Because humans can’t avoid conflict, we choose actions that harm others
- Conflict happens by opposition, and humans can oppose even truth, which suggests that there is such a thing as choice to oppose
- Therefore, the fact that we can harm others through actions, even if we don’t want to, suggests we have Free Will.
- Additionally, opposition would not really exist if we could not choose.
- Therefore, opposition of truth shows we have Free Will
- Lastly, intentional harm is the proof of Free Will

Feel free to agree or disagree, and discuss.

 

[Nakosis]

- Humans don’t like to harm other humans
- All humans should attempt to avoid conflict
- Conflict exists and is frequent
- Because humans can’t avoid conflict, we choose actions that harm others
- Conflict happens by opposition, and humans can oppose even truth, which suggests that there is such a thing as choice to oppose
- Therefore, the fact that we can harm others through actions, even if we don’t want to, suggests we have Free Will.
- Additionally, opposition would not really exist if we could not choose.
- Therefore, opposition of truth shows we have Free Will
- Lastly, intentional harm is the proof of Free Will

Feel free to agree or disagree, and discuss.

Some folks enjoy causing harm to other folks.

There's no rule that says we should avoid conflict. In fact some people enjoy conflict.

The rest seems similar to the Christian view. Free will means the ability to oppose God.

Obviously God doesn't want man to oppose him. The fact that we can is proof we can oppose God's will which means we are acting on our own will. Therefore we are freely choosing to oppose (God's will) (truth).

 

[Kuzcotopia]

Does the Ebola virus like to harm human beings? Can it avoid harming human beings

Because it's existence comes in conflict with human beings, does that mean the Ebola virus is sentient/capable of making free will decisions that come in conflict with ours?

Not making a case here, just thinking about it.

 

[Stanyon]

- Humans don’t like to harm other humans {snip}
- Lastly, intentional harm is the proof of Free Will

Some human animals absolutely do enjoy harming other human animals just as quite a few animals in the wild that sometimes kill for no reason, I'd say human animals intentionally causing harm to another is not proof of free will but rather proof of not escaping their biology.

 

[Quintessence]

Some of the major hitches with this line of argumentation have already been touched upon, so there is little need to reiterate what has been said.

To add a pice that hasn't been said, what constitutes "harm" is not as straightforward as one might think. Nearly any (if not all) actions can be interpreted as harmful. It's one of the problems the Wiccan community has had, for example, with the Rede of "harm none." It's not a very workable ethical maxim without an awful lot of commentary.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

- Humans don’t like to harm other humans
- All humans should attempt to avoid conflict
- Conflict exists and is frequent
- Because humans can’t avoid conflict, we choose actions that harm others
- Conflict happens by opposition, and humans can oppose even truth, which suggests that there is such a thing as choice to oppose
- Therefore, the fact that we can harm others through actions, even if we don’t want to, suggests we have Free Will.
- Additionally, opposition would not really exist if we could not choose.
- Therefore, opposition of truth shows we have Free Will
- Lastly, intentional harm is the proof of Free Will

Feel free to agree or disagree, and discuss.

Conflicts arise over many different reasons. We are animals, and we have needs. If anything it works against free will because we are acting like other animals, who have conflicts over many of the same reasons.

 

[Nakosis]

- Humans don’t like to harm other humans
- All humans should attempt to avoid conflict
- Conflict exists and is frequent
- Because humans can’t avoid conflict, we choose actions that harm others
- Conflict happens by opposition, and humans can oppose even truth, which suggests that there is such a thing as choice to oppose
- Therefore, the fact that we can harm others through actions, even if we don’t want to, suggests we have Free Will.
- Additionally, opposition would not really exist if we could not choose.
- Therefore, opposition of truth shows we have Free Will
- Lastly, intentional harm is the proof of Free Will

Feel free to agree or disagree, and discuss.