Are we in control of our Decisions?

I've always wanted to create a topic about this subject, but have never gotten around to this.

In this presentaion there is a great point of view put on and really makes you question how preception works. It's amazing, just watch the video.

/discuss

I'll watch the video when I get home later.

Technically, that question kinda doesn't work. It is the nature of decisions that, by calling them decisions, you're declaring that you are consciously deciding. If our "decisions" weren't controlled by us, they wouldn't be "decisions."

However, I know what the question means, and I'd say it's a good question that I have no answer to.

I'm in the same boat as you.

The question does have an automatic spin on it, but it does have an actual meaning. The video dwells more into the perception of what we think is there, and how it can be changed, it really is quite remarkable.

I'd say my initial thought is yes, we are in control of our actions, but I still can't say with much certainty.

Would it matter if we were in 'control' of our actions or not? You can't go back in time and redo something. As long as you feel like you are in control, that is all that should matter. I personally believe that every possible scenario in our universe in played out in a branching many worlds quantum state and therefor we don't control our actions. It just has to happen.

I personally believe that every possible scenario in our universe in played out in a branching many worlds quantum state and therefor we don't control our actions. It just has to happen.

I agree but I also disagree. I agree about your theory that the universe plays out in many ways. My theory right now regarding fate is that it exists, but only due to technicality. My theory is that every time a decision is made, a branch is formed and you take whichever path your decision takes you on. In an alternate reality, you made a different decision and took a different path. So basically, what this ends up meaning is that every possible outcome is already determined.

So basically, fate DOES exist, but it doesn't necessarily imply lack of free will. What CAN happen to you is already determined, and based on your decisions, what WILL happen is revealed.

That's my theory anyway.

I personally believe that every possible scenario in our universe in played out in a branching many worlds quantum state and therefor we don't control our actions. It just has to happen.

The whole quantum branching thing is an interesting theory, but what about light? Isn't the standing theory that individual photons behave as if they were part of a wave because they are interacting with photons from quantum branches where they take all possible paths? If those quantum branches continue to exist as you suggest, shouldn't the behavior of light appear to be completely random due to interaction with universes with vastly different current states?