How does parallel universes theory affect 'free will'?

Question

does the theory support free will or is it another form of determinism?

Answer 1

no i see what he's saying, if there's infinate parallel universes that say perhaps in one universe i wore a blue shirt today instead of black, a green one in another, a white one, a red one, and so on... then there really isn't any free will involved because i would be doing every option and it leading to a different course of history...

my best answer to this question is that we are not subject to the other parallel universes, so therefore the choices you make today you still have complete control over and that is free will...

*edit* in regards to the statement below... so my philosophy is that although god has the power to see the future that does not mean god choses to use it all the time, because using your idea then he already knew adam was going to eat the apple, so telling him not to eat it, or even placing this tree in the garden just seems cruel.  and a god unworthy of worship...

Answer 2

Parallel Universe Theory addresses scientific ideas and principals in physics. Free Will and/or Determinism is at best a matter of philosophy. You are mixing apples and oranges.  

Answer 3

Now if I say that God knows our future, then what about our free will when future is fixed according to Him?

Answer 4

What in God's name has parallel universes got to do with free will? Forget the universes, if you are determined then you've got free will! or are you talking about the killer whale, free willie?

Answer 5

The parallel universe model says that everything that can possibly happen does happen. As individuals we only get to experience one possible outcome of every choice event, but the copies of us in the other universes get to experience the other outcomes.

We can, by our actions, influence which reality path our consciousness takes, so in that sense we do have free will, although our choice in any given situation will be highly constrained by our previous knowledge and experience. Exactly how much freedom we have in our decisions is open to debate.

To put it another way: if in fact we do not have free will, it is not the fault of the universe.