When did God give man Free Will?

[MineralMan]

70. I don't think about "free will" exclusively in a moral sense.

It is simply the ability to choose one's actions. Of course, that applies to moral decisions as well, but is not limited to them, in my opinion. Is there some sort of ideal action that one can choose to take? Not really. In moral decisions as well as decisions that have nothing to do with morality, there is no black and white answer. Actions that have a beneficial effect on one thing may have a deleterious effect on another.

I use a reciprocity test when making decisions on actions that might affect others. That's the morality side of free will. Often, though, my actions might affect people or situations of which I am not currently aware and cannot consider properly. I can only do my best to anticipate the results of my actions and to cause the least possible harm to others. Such decisions can be difficult at times. For example, if I decide to drive to the supermarket today, should I exercise additional caution, due to possible icy road conditions? My decision will be to be more cautious, to avoid endangering others. That, however, might cause annoyance for less cautious drivers.

For decisions that affect only me, I think differently, always being aware that a particular action may have both positive and negative effects and that actions might have consequences that extend beyond the present moment. Personal decisions that affect only myself always come with the chance that I might regret my action later. That becomes part of the decision-making process. For example, I might decide later today whether or not to drink a cup of coffee. On one hand, it will increase my alertness. On the other hand, it might make me wakeful at bedtime. I will consider both and decide, later today. I will have to deal with the results of my decision.

Free will, combined with mindfulness, generally produces the best results, both morally and personally. Still, it can be a crap shoot.