
Originally Posted by
Greatest I am
Test yourself for Free Will.
The debate as to our free will is more widespread than most realize. It is also stalled without a definitive answer, because no one has come out with a definitive test.
From my point of view free will cannot be given, it is something that must be taken.
There have been many different experiments (tests), and empirical observations on free will all indicating that free will is non-existent and an illusory perception in your brain:
- Libet's experiment
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimuli Experiment
- Neural-correlate explanation
- Drugs and chemical reactions altering consciousness
The only way you can believe free will is debatable is if you believe in superhuman power, modern science is entirely wrong, or that you can determine what's true or false by feelings

Originally Posted by
Greatest I am
If someone has free will then they are in a position to give it up.
If a someone does not have free will, they cannot.
To prove that you have free will, all you would need do is give it up to someone else’s will for no other reason other than you chose to.
If you agree with the reasoning and think the process here sound, then I invite you to give up your free will to mine, by simply replying to this thread with a brief response.
You will begin your response with the letter Y, if you recognize that you have free will.
Your appropriate response will prove that you have a free will.
Is this a definitive test for free will and scientifically sound?
Regards
DL
This reasoning makes zero sense. Free will has to do with being able to control your decisions.
Your argument is just circular reasoning
"To prove that you have free will, all you would need do is give it up to someone else’s will for no other reason other than you chose to"
You're basically saying "Being able to give up free will indicates that free will exists since I already assumed free will exists and I have free will to give up"
Your argument is circular, how would you know that you already have free will to give up? You're just re-stating the premise that free will exists, it's just circular reasoning, otherwise you would never assume you have free will to give up
It's just the same type of circular reasoning as someone saying "I know free will exists because I know I can choose to do [some action]". The only way you can know that you can choose is if you already assume free will exists, it's just the same as saying "free will exists because I already assume I have free will"
If you make the least assumptions, following Ockham's razor, the only conclusion is that an action occurred (giving up your will to someone else), and you had the feeling that you controlled your decision.
Giving an example of an action where you have the feeling that you have free will is not evidence that free will exists at all. We already know that lots of feelings and perceptions are illusory and inaccurate.
It's not scientifically sound and is just circular reasoning.