Do you have free will?

Thoughts or opinions? Do tell, I would like to hear your views on the matter.

Sadly, I don't seem to entirely either. I live within certain boundaries and sometimes have an illusion of freewill... lol

Our free will is fairly limited by the constructs of society and, as yaasshat mentioned, physics. Missallyesterday (can I shorten that somehow?) has the right idea in that it's an illusion. We do have some control over day to day actions in our life, but even those often have some stipulations. For example, we can theoretically eat what we want but only wherein we have access to and can afford a given food item. So there's no restriction per se, but there are other limitations like cost and availability that make it difficult or impossible and thus manipulate steer our "free will" in certain directions. Even time has this effect, as I may want pizza right now, but I have to wait X minutes to cook one or have one delivered. But then if I want pizza, I don't have complete control over the topings either. I either get something premade, order from someplace with limited options, or make one myself with the limited ingredients available at the stores around me. Now the more obvious things that we can't (at least easily) control are things along the lines of legal requirements. For instance, school is mandatory until you reach 16 or so depending on the state/country you live in. I also have to find a source of income in order to survive, therefore I work. You might say that you do have some freedom in the job you choose, but it's actually very limited by factors such as distance, physical ability, intelligence, money on hand, persistence, education, attitude, etc. It's not exactly easy to just go out and get your dream job. Some have trouble finding any job, because of their circumstances. But even so, society dictates that we have one to provide a means of procuring food, shelter, water, transportation, etc. So sometimes you end up with that nearby job that isn't so great because it's the best you can do in the situation. Then consider even the biological factors that manipulate us. The highly complex chemical reactions that take place in our bodies and brains which drive us to action or inaction in various ways. We're all on this site here because of the chemical need for companionship, be it merely friends or a complete sexual relationship inspired by the influences of testosterone and estrogen, among other things. Even the need to experience the pleasure of endorphins in general, triggered by eating tasty foods, having fun with friends, having sex, exercising, dancing, watching anime, reading books, listening to music, you name it. Even our hobbies are driven by these chemical reactions to one extent or another. And what of relationships? How do people end up together, falling in love, and so on? There are of course complex chemical reactions taking place, and moreover it's very much limited to the people we actually meet or see. There are billions of people in this world that I will never encounter, not once, and so I will never fall in love with them. I will never know them. If I met them, maybe we'd be the love of each other's lives. But we live in the here and now, and it's the people we've seen, still see, and will see in the future that we will potentially end up with. Because they are who we know and see. I'll never be in a relationship with someone I don't even know exists. Whose face I've never seen, whose personality I don't know, whose voice I've never heard. It just doesn't make sense. Our attraction is manipulated by availability. As sad and cold as that is to say. But then, this sounds like we have no control over who or what we are. What we think, or what we do. A world where everything is driven by our chemical reactions and the ways in which they are influenced by the people and environmental factors around us. But, I don't believe that's entirely true. I think there's something more to it all, whatever that may be. Some form in which we do have some control beyond the physical factors that, from a scientific perspective, literally decide who and what we are for us down to the very last detail. I think we do have some free will, though it may not be by a large portion. But then, I could be entirely wrong. If I look only at the scientific factors, we are basically chemical reactions that merely create the illusion of "life" and "consciousness" or "will" and even things like "wants" or "needs." Likely as a simple survival mechanism, where perhaps it made us more persistent and clever, underhanded even, increasing our odds of survival exponentially. Our illusion of thought, dreams, consciousness, and free will could just be our way of preserving ourselves in nature. But, I do hope and believe there's more to it than that. Even if only a little.

@yaasshat you are right on that. @missalley it is true though on that matter. I am glad to see some responses on this. @ kitsune you had to give me a well thought out piece when I was at workXD I will put out a proper response when I am off. Thank you for taking the time to elaborate on this though truthfully I wanted to see others responses after researching this myself looking over articles and such. But I shall be back with a response.

Our free will is only freedom in the smaller details. We are like rats in a maze. The walls are rules, expectations and the limits we believe about ourselves. We can go right or left, fast or slow, or stop completely. But few people ever look up and see the walls only go so high and can be surpassed under the right conditions.

That's very inspirational. I really like that analogy. Each life form has limits to its perception to varying degrees. Humans are among the most perceptive, yet just as the rats don't think to look up perhaps there is somewhere we aren't looking either. Something simple, something right in front of our faces, yet we can't even fathom it. It's just outside of our reach, beyond our ability to understand or measure. We only have 5 senses, so anything beyond those is just unfathomable whether it exists or not. Be it other forms of matter or different life forms that don't live by our laws of physics.

@KitsuneKouta you may cut my name off wherever you feel. I agree everyone here has had some pretty good responses.

yes, I have the will of Fire! shout out to whoever recognizes the reference