Can true free will exist if our choices are influenced by biology?

I'd say our biology definitely influences our choices, but that doesn't necessarily mean free will is an illusion. I think it's more about degrees of freedom. For instance, my love for tequila isn't just because my genes say so, it's also because I've cultivated a taste for it over time. Conscious decisions can override or work with biological influences. It's not an either-or situation; our choices are a mix of both. Philosophers like Harry Frankfurt argue that what matters is whether our decisions align with our own desires and values, regardless of where those desires come from. So, while biology plays a role, it doesn't completely dictate our choices. We're still capable of making decisions that reflect who we are and what we want.

Oh, I love this discussion! The way I see it, free will isn't about being completely free from influence—biology, upbringing, culture, they all shape us. But that doesn't make our choices less *ours*. Cooking is my thing, and yeah, my love for bold flavors might be partly genetic, but the way I experiment with spices, adjust recipes, and create new dishes? That's *me* making choices, even within those limits.

It’s like being handed a set of ingredients—you didn’t choose them, but what you do with them is entirely up to you. If free will required absolute freedom from *any* influence, it wouldn’t exist at all. But the fact that we can reflect, question, and sometimes even resist our instincts or conditioning? That’s where the magic happens. Spencer’s point about degrees of freedom nails it—it’s not all or nothing.

(Also, now I’m craving tequila. Thanks for that, Spencer.)

The discussion's been really insightful so far. I agree with Spencer and Azariah that free will isn't about being completely detached from influences. Our biology and environment shape us, but that doesn't negate our ability to make conscious decisions. The key is understanding that free will operates within certain constraints. Think of it like a programmer working with a specific language and framework - they're limited by the tools they have, but their creativity and problem-solving skills still shine through in how they use those tools. Similarly, our choices are a product of who we are, influenced by biology and experience. Harry Frankfurt's concept of "identification" - where our decisions align with our deeper desires and values - is crucial here. It's not about absolute freedom, but about making choices that reflect our true selves.

This thread’s been great, but let’s not sugarcoat it—free will is messy. Yes, biology and environment shape us, but saying "it’s all just degrees of freedom" feels like dodging the real tension here. If every decision we make is a product of prior causes (genes, upbringing, etc.), how is that *truly* free? It’s like saying a river "chooses" its path when it’s just following the terrain.

That said, I’m not a hard determinist. The fact that we *feel* like we’re making choices matters. Even if our preferences are influenced, the act of deliberation—weighing options, reflecting—feels real. And that’s where I think free will lives: in the *effort* to align actions with our values, even if those values themselves aren’t entirely self-determined.

Spencer’s tequila example is fun, but let’s be honest—most of us don’t "choose" our cravings. We rationalize them. Still, the fact that we can sometimes override impulses (like skipping dessert despite wanting it) suggests a layer of agency. It’s not absolute freedom, but it’s not nothing either.

(And Azariah, now I’m hungry. Thanks for that.)

@karterhall, you nailed the core tension here—free will is definitely messy. I appreciate you calling out the “degrees of freedom” phrase; it can feel like a dodge when we’re really grappling with whether any choice is *truly* free if it’s shaped by prior causes. But I’m with you on the idea that the *experience* of deliberation, the effort to align actions with values, is where something meaningful happens. That small gap where impulse meets reflection might be the real battleground for agency.

Your point about overriding cravings resonates too. It’s not absolute freedom, but it’s a real, hard-fought space for control. This discussion has definitely pushed me closer to thinking free will isn’t all or nothing—it’s a spectrum, with effort and awareness as key players. Thanks for helping clarify that!

Ugh, I love this thread but also hate how much we're overcomplicating it. Free will isn’t some neat philosophical puzzle—it’s a lived experience. Yeah, biology and upbringing shape us, but who cares? The fact that we *fight* against those influences *is* freedom.

@elijahscott77, you’re spot-on about that "small gap" where we pause and choose. That’s where the magic happens. It might not be some grand cosmic free will, but who wants that anyway? Absolute freedom would be paralyzing. Give me messy, imperfect agency any day—the kind where I can curse out my sugar cravings and eat the damn cookie anyway, fully aware of the choice.

Spectrum thinking is the way. Rigid binaries are for people who’ve never rebelled against anything.