Given our mind and its limitations, determinism seems more logical than free will in my opinion. But it might be outside of our ability to understand something like this innately, just like we're having trouble reconciling the idea of an infinite universe expanding with our take on the world. We're stuck in our 3-dimensional thinking.
"The world pushes us and we react, like a rock, but it feels to us like we're making choices."
I've been under the idea that our inability to predict the future is why we possess the illusion of choice. If the future could be known in the same way that we can look at the past, the notion of choice would cease to be.
People tend to be predictable when enough variables are taken into account, and I don't see why the means of analyzing such things can't be amped up with the right tools. If something could read my every move before I even do it, it'd be hard to say that I'm making any choices consciously.
"Resisting temptation is only a thing from other pre-existing qualities making it so. It's not really a conscious choice."
You're sacrificing common sense just so you can spark a debate.
Regardless if an option is pre-existing or not, that wouldn't dispel a conscious choice from being one.
Resistance itself is a strong expression of will power.
If someone were to draw a flower on a sheet of paper. Up close you can see the flower and the choices that were made when creating it.
If you were to back away from the drawing. The flower, tho not changed. Starts to resemble a dot. Did the flower change ?
Choice/Perception/Evolution/Adaptation
Are you referring to everyone of just empaths? I have a mask and image and try to control it 100% of time or else I get exposed and people will know my true personality.
I think empaths live dictated by their feelings, their wants, needs and desires without caring about their future. Example: They expend money in other countries if knowing their country is getting poorer and it will affect their economy and their lives in the future.