My position (at the moment) is that he is always compelled to obey the law since the law is always a compelling force to all. We may overcome the compelling pressure of the law, but that is a difference issue.

please elaborate...

We may overcome the compelling pressure of the law, but that is a difference issue.

So, then, nothing I do which complies with law can be said to be freely done?

If I choose not to kill someone, we must conclude it is because there is this elusive compelling force, not because I freely chose not to kill the person? Even if I know I will suffer consequences if I kill someone, can't I freely choose not to kill someone? Yes, I can.

We are always being compelled. But often times we simply compel ourselves.
Someone says "pick a number between 1 and 10". The only thing compelling us to pick any particular number is our own deliberation

...Intelligent Species are intuitively and progressively aware of this condition

We are always being compelled. But often times we simply compel ourselves.
Someone says "pick a number between 1 and 10". The only thing compelling us to pick any particular number is our own deliberation

---------- Post added 01-08-2010 at 02:45 PM ----------

let us just hope you aren't "suddenly" compelled to

...prove that there is not a small extra "atom" in your brain leading you to chose 2 rather then 3...

...prove that there is not a small extra "atom" in your brain leading you to chose 2 rather then 3...

I hate to keep asking for specifics but I'm just trying to follow you exactly. To which condition are we aware of?

I think there is a small extra "atom" in my brain leading me to make a choice. But what does that matter? It doesn't mean who I am is not who I am, and the choices I make are not mine!

Fair...

Causal inevitability ! (or Karma as normal people call it...)

In another Universe the Killer\the beggar\the ignorant could have been me...

good point...I could simply state that small extra "atom" is my will. And as I have stated...you are correct in that I am being compelled by this small atom....indeed I am being compelled by my will

You can comply with the law of your own free will, as complying with the law can be something that you want to do.

In which case we are paradoxically being compelled to think we can take responsibility, something we intuitively know we cant, but by the sheer fact that we are, it means we must be

In which case I assert that this would be a contradiction therefore cannot be true

ONE ABSOLUTELY UNIFIED REALITY !

If the whole world consisted of a jar (20,000,000 atoms) and three gumballs in it (1,000,000 atoms a piece), then you are denying the existence of both the jar and the gumballs but agree that there is one thing (the world) that consists of 23,000,000 atoms.

How'd I do?

i am never convinced by people who claim that free will does not exist. It absolves one of all responsibility. Yet such people don't take advantage of such an amoral position.

In my experience it is exactly the opposite that tends to be true. Those who take advantage of others by breaking state and moral laws, feel they are free and personify it in the face of morality.

so in your case, why would you be being caused to think you can take responsibility for anything?