Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00068)

Although human beings can accomplish great wonders by the exercise of free
will, it has its limits.  There are unchangeable, universal laws, about
which human beings have no control.  Some of these laws have been partially
discovered by human beings.  None of them were invented by human beings.

Morality exists independently of human perception.  Human beings have no
choice about the moral value of any alternative, but only which alternative
to choose.

Although they can choose to be dishonest about their beliefs, human beings
have no choice about what those beliefs are.  Nor are preferences a matter
of choice.  Only what to choose in response to preferences is subject to
choice.    

Human beings have no choice about philosophical laws.  Their beliefs about
them are unique mixtures of truth and falsehood, but the extent to which a
belief is true or false depends on the objectively-existing laws
themselves, not on the subject who has the belief.   

Human beings have discovered some laws of logic and of mathematics. 
We may use them, but they exist independently of us.  They cannot be
changed.  

Probabilities exist objectively .  These probabilities can be partially
perceived, but not changed.

Human beings cannot do anything for which they have no motive.  Choice is
necessary, but not sufficient, for behavior to occur.  Human beings have no
choice about their motives, but only in how to respond to their motives.

Free will depends on non-omniscience.  Assuming that randomness is not
inherent (a belief which which with many scientists disagree), an
omniscient being would have no free will.  Uncertainty about the best
alternative is necessary for free will to exist.      

Reality can be defined as that which free will cannot affect.