The conflict between an all knowing being and the free will of
individuals.
- There is a being that knows everything that was, is, and will be.
- This being would know exactly that I will do before I do it.
- I have will do what is known that I will do in the future.
- Therefore I do not have free will.
What is
free will? Free will is the
ability to make a choice.
Let us take a person that we know very well. Hypothetically, this
person is a
vegetarian. For lunch, there are two choices: the
steak
and the
vegetarian pasta. You know what this person will choose to
eat. Given the same choice
tomorrow, you know what the outcome will
be. Does this person have
free will with regards to what to eat, even
though you know what will be chosen before it is done?
The knowledge in advance of what the truth will is not
the cause of the truth. The choice is not being forced, and is
made freely. This person could choose the steak if so desired.
Extending this, does a being with perfect knowledge of your preferences
force you to make the choices that this being knows you will make?
You have the choice. If you wanted to, you could choose otherwise,
and that is the essence of free will. Even though it may be possible
to know the future outcome of events, it does not mean that the choices
leading up to those events are compelled or necessary.