# Does it violate free will if the person was never given the desire to do something in the first place?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-violate-free-will-if-the-person-was-never-given-the-desire-to-do-something-in-the-first-place/1025339>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [December 2, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-violate-free-will-if-the-person-was-never-given-the-desire-to-do-something-in-the-first-place/1025339 "2025-12-02T22:09:00Z")\
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**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-violate-free-will-if-the-person-was-never-given-the-desire-to-do-something-in-the-first-place/1025339/394 "2026-01-28T06:47:09Z")

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> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Certainly, it would be trivial for a god or even a medical science somewhat more advanced than ours to just put a low ceiling on how much a creature is physically capable of suffering.

> The wings of the ostrich flap away;  
> her plumage is lacking in feathers.  
> When she abandons her eggs on the ground  
> and lets them warm in the sand,  
> She forgets that a foot may crush them,  
> that the wild beasts may trample them;  
> She cruelly disowns her young  
> and her labor is useless; she has no fear.  
> For God has withheld wisdom from her  
> and given her no share in understanding.  
> Yet when she spreads her wings high,  
> she laughs at a horse and rider.
> 
> Job 39:13-18 (NABRE)

Had God created a world of ostriches\*, the world would be devoid of love.

~Max

\* as here described - a zoologist will probably tell you ostriches are highly devoted parents

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