[MD] Free Will

[craigerb at comcast.net]

[Steve]
> She can even choose what she does not prefer...
> Are we not slaves to our preferences?

You answered your own question. We can choose what we don't
prefer, therefore we are NOT slaves to our preferences.

[Steve]
> We did not choose our preferences

Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't.
I prefer Italian food to Chinese food. The former just tastes better;
I didn't choose it to taste better.
But my wife is allergic to cheese, so when we go out to dinner,
I prefer to go to a Chinese restaurant. That preference I do choose. 

[Steve]
> How could it ever aid in our decision making to determine whether or
> not we have free will?

Consider the case where we are trying to decide what to do about someone
who broke the law. Our response will depend on whether we think that person
acted freely or not.
Craig