The normal definition for "will" in psychology/psychiatry is "the independent faculty of choice", in other words, "volition". Though better by characterizing the deliberate aspect of "will", I still find this definition wanting. — Michael Zwingli

Then came Schopenhauer, who, building on the ideas of Immanuel Kant, revolutionized the term. For him, the "will", as is so eloquently described on the Wiki, seems to have been "a blind, unconscious, aimless striving devoid of knowledge, outside of space and time, and free of all multiplicity". In this view, the will becomes less a faculty, less an ability or power, and more a source of constant impulse...from the biological perspective, an "instinct" (in the sense derived from it's constituent Latin etyma, "an inner prodding"), if you will. — Michael Zwingli

Occam's Razor comes to mind here.

I don't see much of a difference between these two descriptions other than the number of words in the description. If we accept the idea that computers make decisions based on their programming, and finite information stored in them to use to make decisions with, then it follows that computers make these decisions instinctively, as in that is how they were designed and programmed to respond to some input which isn't much different from organisms. Organisms are programmed by Natural Selection and possess limited information in their heads for which to make decisions with - instinctively.

Organisms are programmed by Natural Selection and possess limited information in their heads for which to make decisions with - instinctively. — Harry Hindu

That's the same image as God creating us in his image. Organisms are programmed? Natural Selection being the programmer? What language is used? Are we following a written program?

Definition of will:

A legal document containing instructions as to what should be done with one's money and property after one's death.



Hercule Poirot.