Yes, they are choices in that nobody is technically forcing you to make a certain choice at gun point. But no, they are not free choices in that there’s always external or internal causes for why you make a certain choice in a specific moment that are predetermined by previous experience, mood, genetics etc. and thus, out of your control.
For example, in terms of media, this is entirely dependent on what I’ve been previously exposed to, what peers think about certain types of media, likes and dislikes. Sure, they can be shaped over time, but this is also a causal process.Same goes for the environment, we already know that certain types of people are less likely to seek out certain types of environments based on their predispositions, mood, priming, etc.
We currently don’t have evidence for the idea that there is any other driving factor behind our choices (like a soul for instance) that is not affected by external influences.
Yes, they are choices in that nobody is technically forcing you to make a certain choice at gun point. But no, they are not free choices in that there’s always external or internal causes for why you make a certain choice in a specific moment that are predetermined by previous experience, mood, genetics etc. and thus, out of your control.
For example, in terms of media, this is entirely dependent on what I’ve been previously exposed to, what peers think about certain types of media, likes and dislikes. Sure, they can be shaped over time, but this is also a causal process.Same goes for the environment, we already know that certain types of people are less likely to seek out certain types of environments based on their predispositions, mood, priming, etc.
We currently don’t have evidence for the idea that there is any other driving factor behind our choices (like a soul for instance) that is not affected by external influences.