Terms and concepts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, this doesn\u2019t mean there are many free will<\/em>\u2019s. That would mean one can fight about what is the correct free will<\/em>. Such fighting is done all too frequently \u2015 leading mostly to little and never to much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One could better enumerate the concepts and call them freewill-1, freewill-2, etc. One can then discuss whether freewill-10 is pretty much the same as freewill-12. Also, whether freewill-4 needs to be divided into freewill-4A and freewill-4b. That might all have some relevance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without relevance is any fight about which is the one and only correct free will \u2015 let alone about whether this one and only is freewill-7 or freewill-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metaphysical free will<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us call this concept freewill-meta<\/em>. It\u2019s generally used as an all-or-nothing concept. Does free will (freewill-meta) exist, or doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this vein, universal determinism \u2013 if that exists, as many believe \u2013 proves the non-existence of free will, since everything is determined even before your slightest decision to act, think, or feel anything. You couldn\u2019t have acted or felt or done something else. Any of your decisions were already determined long before you were born. Ergo, you are free in nothing \u2015 no freewill-meta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So this theory goes. As a consequence, some lose all sense of responsibility. Others fear that freewill-meta, once discovered by the general public, may throw everything into chaos for this same lack of responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practical free will<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us call this concept freewill-pract<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is \u2013 as just referred to \u2013 crucial in many domains of human endeavor. Societies are built on the concept \u2015 whether Western, more guilt-based, or Eastern, more shame-based. Neither makes sense without recourse to freewill-pract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, in the Western case, freewill-pract is basically more oriented toward individual control. In the Eastern case, the controlling urge is relatively more group-oriented. This is a prime source of quite some misunderstandings. But, in one case or the other, freewill-pract lies at the core of making society functional. Without it, there is no sense of responsibility \u2015 no external urge possible for people to do some good for more than their little selves. For instance, freewill-meta is bound to jeopardize freewill-pract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least as things have been worked out over the ages until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Future of free will<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The future may bring something different, as I hope it does \u2015 Compassion<\/a>-based. In my view, there will be a special place for something called free will<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us call this concept freewill-compa<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freewill-compa doesn\u2019t mind whether or not being pre-determined. There is no mere-ego that would lose its sense of responsibility. Freewill-compa can flow along just as well \u2015 undeterred. For this, it doesn\u2019t even need a sense of responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freedom at last<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freewill-compa feels free if it can be of service, which it always can, in depth and respect, without abuse or being abused. As such, it doesn\u2019t know frustration. At the same time, it is the desire to \u2018awaken all sentient beings.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be the basis of a future worldwide society. We can strive for that already \u2015 even though much ego-anxiety<\/a> may do its best to avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compassion is the reaching of genuine freedom at last.<\/p>\n