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To: annalex

Sorry for the dual answers. When I posted, it behaved as though I abandoned the post and disappeared off my screen.

I feel as though I am chasing you through a forest. You state, “Impediments as well as influences usually exist.”
“Free will operates both within constraints and under influences.”

Then you state,”There is no impediment for him to choose any among available roads.”

Is there or is there not impediments to free will?


257 posted on 06/29/2009 1:36:02 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: Dutchboy88

I don’t know why this is confusing. Free will operates between choices that are available. A constraint is something that makes a choice unavailable. For example, cars cannot be driven through walls. An influence is what makes some choices harder to make than others, for example, to drive in violation of traffic rules is a relatively difficult choice, even though it is available.

Once these constraints are realized, and influences weighed in, the choice is unimpeded. For example, at an intersection in a city I may turn left, or turn right, or go straight despite a do-not-enter sign and risk being stopped by police. I cannot go in any other direction because my car cannot go through walls or fly. That choice, left, right or straight, is entirely mine to make; it is unimpeded.


258 posted on 06/29/2009 3:17:26 PM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: Dutchboy88
I feel as though I am chasing you through a forest.

lol. In snow shoes and goggles.

265 posted on 06/29/2009 11:05:06 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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