Sociopath Community

I like to think I am a product of fate.  

Great question! I'm a fan of free will, I believe in personal responsibility and working to achieve your goals in life. Sometimes things happen that are out of my control, but I try to make the most of it and enjoy the ride ;)

I think luck/fate has A LOT to do with what happens in our lives.

Supernatural power may be what you said it was, but it can also be the result of a deity. That's what I took from the definition. So, we're both right in that sense. My interpretation was narrower.

I just don't see why there would be two different definitions - but neither one involves a spiritual entity. Unless one is just meant to strongly emphasize things being out of one's control.

You mean a spiritual entity/higher power would be anything that supposedly fills in the gaps in science?

I agree with that idea to some extent.

If fate is a power that predetermines things, then I don't believe it exists except as a domino system of deterministic events.

Regarding free will, I do believe we possess it. But since we don't have any direct means of control over much of anything really (grass grows whether we want it to or not) our choices might not always pan out as we'd like them to. Life is about trying to control your environment with "free" choices and adapting when it changes, which means free will is a constant battle against the subconscious, our own body and the external environment.

Shit just happens.  For every action there are reactions... For every lack of action another action will fill the void.  Finding fate or destiny in what has happened isn't much different than seeing faces in the clouds.  Were just grains of sand bouncing off each other and other things.

by Inquirer

If fate is a power that predetermines things, then I don't believe it exists except as a domino system of deterministic events.

Regarding free will, I do believe we possess it. But since we don't have any direct means of control over much of anything really (grass grows whether we want it to or not) our choices might not always pan out as we'd like them to. Life is about trying to control your environment with "free" choices and adapting when it changes, which means free will is a constant battle against the subconscious, our own body and the external environment.

 Perfect.

by Inquirer

If fate is a power that predetermines things, then I don't believe it exists except as a domino system of deterministic events.

Regarding free will, I do believe we possess it. But since we don't have any direct means of control over much of anything really (grass grows whether we want it to or not) our choices might not always pan out as we'd like them to. Life is about trying to control your environment with "free" choices and adapting when it changes, which means free will is a constant battle against the subconscious, our own body and the external environment.

I take it that you're a compatibilist? Interesting. I could never wrap my mind around the concept of "freedom" in a universe where everything that happens (our own thoughts and actions included), happens necessarily.