[net.philosophy] Free Will Defined

merrill@rex.DEC (10/17/84)

This may be too brief for some ... but here goes.

"Free" will does NOT mean free-of-any-influence chemical, psychological,
political, emotional, even physical;  the "free" in "free will" refers to
freedom from ANOTHER person's will ( Mother, God, Freud ... ).  

To me a Good Relationship has individual freedom of will WITH voluntary
cooperation and occasional compromise of "will."  

Testing the presence of free will is bitter-sweet: there must be evidence
(a) of differing will and (b) of voluntarily submitting to another's will.
Example: "I want to make love NOW -- but I'll wait until after we're married."


Rick