It sucks knowing that is not wrong. Hehe.

I think you're not wrong in this. Can you link it to the idea of sonder? Because I for one can only perceive based on my own self.

:) it's really different that what we thought it to be.

It's a conscious don't. Versus a conscious do or automatic do.

My guess is it's like this.

We exert will when we stop something. So when you buy x, and decide not to do it; will exercised. By those circumstances you decided to buy something new, that part may be a bit fully conscious act since it was fueled by the previous. It could be a combination.

To sharpen the blade. I think you are not wrong.

Feels like a combination of conscious act and automatic acts working with each other and doing their part when needed.

Your idea isn't wrong. It's just it scares me the level of how we ought to be to exert free will. And what if that's our only option?

It's probably not easy. Or damning hard.

To be fully conscious, the automatic acts disappear. My best guess.

Interaction based on our senses causing chemicals in our brains causing us to do what we know by automatic or what's wired within us is true; then what you say is not wrong if you caused the environment or interaction prior to the moment you say you manipulated someone.

Scary as that is, it is possible and that's not wrong.

That's not wrong. :)

It depends on really on how we peg the basis of the first humans. Did they got made by God or by evolution. But I suppose we can only speculate.

As for God per SE, it's also another issue because how do we define God?

Like I would define a God as someone if we are 2nd dimensional beings, a 3+ being. Because it would be like an author writing a book and we have no say or control on what gets written. A definition not like that isnt Godlike.

Yes, unfortunately that is the case.

Yes. That's a scary thought.

Indeed. And to think doing them takes a lot of effort too. I feel like calling them effort will or will of effort, definitely we pay something for this will.

Free will exists is not wrong. Here's an observation, we sometimes do things in auto mode yes? If we find ourselves doing that, there's an exercise we can do to express free will and that is to stop the act or do it ahead of time, where we stop ourselves from doing something.

That's the only thing that comes to mind on exerting free will.

Reminds me of Marcus Aurelius and makes me react in a neutral thought. Whether in hardship or bliss; this too shall pass.

Based on history, if we truly wish not to repeat past errors, there should be a few tried and true things that work and should be maintained. I feel the saying, don't fix what isn't broken can be applied in that sense and then improve on it if it is better than the tested method.

It made me think if too fast an innovation may be the enemy.

Another way to think of the idea is like building blocks. We stand on the shoulder of giants.

Perfection is the enemy of good. :)

For me, religion or belief in a higher being promotes accountability. Example. You do bad, there is punishment. You do good, there is reward. Also the golden rule.

Science without accountability probably gave us the errs of Wuhan covid and the errs of how to treat it and how we can recover everything else.

Science is a method and conclusions from that method must be questioned. So we can get the best from it.

That's why polio vaccines are good. That's why exercise is good.

My point is there shouldn't be an expert in science. Because everything can be tested.

At the same time if religion isn't about accountability, if it does not make you a better person or helps you think; it's not religious or religion but a cult not for the betterment of man.