Are our acts 'free'?

Question:I want to hear opinions on this, as it is something interesting to think about.
Our acts depend on our choices, our choices are caused by beliefs and desires, beliefs and desires aren't necessarily in our control, so therefore; how are our acts 'free'?

...I came across this..and it's given me a lot to think about.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I want to hear opinions on this, as it is something interesting to think about.
Our acts depend on our choices, our choices are caused by beliefs and desires, beliefs and desires aren't necessarily in our control, so therefore; how are our acts 'free'?

...I came across this..and it's given me a lot to think about.

No, definitely not, can never happen.
We do live in an environment that sometimes predicates our options. And even though it may be something else that we would wish to choose or do, it is not something that we will have the opportunity to do.
Also, life does have it's trade offs. Sometimes over coming obstacles creates barriers because then a person finds working hard to be easy. That in itself can create a conflict and not allow for proper social interaction.

I don't agree with beliefs and desires are set in stone - they to have the ability to change - example my brother was taught that cows are elephants as a child - he would have continued to believe this until his belief changed based on more information - so yes to would have control over changing in believing that a cow is now a cow and not an elephant

My friend, part of the reason why you may feel stuck is that you may have inadvertently painted your thinking into a corner.

The way I see it...you've given yourself "a lot to think about" only because of the wording in your question. Let's look at your pieces of you question...

"Our acts depend on our choices." TRUE.
"Our choices are caused by beliefs and desires." TRUE.
"Beliefs and desires aren't necessarily in our control" FALSE.

I got the sense that YOU also thought this statement was not true because you used the word "necessarily."

Our beliefs and desires really ARE under our control. If you don't think they're in your control, then what answer do you have as to whose control they belong to?

I'm allergic to lobster and crab. Even though I like the taste of seafood, eating these types of shellfish causes me to break out in rashes and swelling, and I begin to itch all over. But right now, sitting here, typing this sentence has just made me desire some shellfish. By controlling my speech and my thoughts, I actually talked myself into desiring to eat shellfish. I can equally control this desire by simply reminding myself of the physical ailments I'll receive by eating shellfish.

The same is true for my desire for Mariah Carey.

And, thus, our acts really are free. No matter how much I rationalize my beliefs or yield to my desires, I really do believe I chose my actions at each step.

And right now, I choose not to pursue lobster because of the physical pain that will come due to my allergy.

And I choose not to pursue Mariah Carey because of the physical pain that will come due to my wife.

Our acts and beliefs ARE in our control.

We are FREE to do what we want!

But we curtail our freedom to take account of what the consequences might be...well, at least we should.