Dear André,
You ask 20/8 16:45 +0100 whether Free Will exists for me or not, supposing
that it does/doesn't because I like the idea of Free Will or not.
I agree that Free Will is a red herring, which is a species that is closely
related to the platypus. It is a diversion from the insight that we like
ideas (or not) because of their (lack of) pragmatic value. The pragmatic
value of the idea of Free Will doesn't bring 'Free Will' into existence, but
only 'the idea of Free Will'.
The idea of Free Will has pragmatic value for the stabilization of social
patterns of values. If you behave according to the pattern, you 'obviously'
value it because you have a Free Will to behave differently if you wouldn't
value it. You must value it, even if you are not aware of doing so.
The idea that everyone has Free Will can thus justify (stabilize by
intellectual means) any social pattern of values.
The idea of Free Will also has pragmatic value for the stabilization of
intellectual patterns of values. It can make any set of incoherent
occurrences into a whole: apparently someone wanted it that way. We only
have
to make up a Who. In my trade, economics: 'the Market', 'the consumer',
'the Invisible Hand'. It explains nothing, yet it seems to explain all.
The idea of Free Will finally has pragmatic value spiritually (in our
striving to break free from all, even intellectual, static patterns of
values to reach for the moon of DQ). Just 'find' something you want which is
not within your reach (preferably something put upon your path by a Higher
Being) and your life gets Meaning in striving for it.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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