Unknown Freedom

How does knowledge, or lack thereof, affect free will?

Uncertainty seems to be a required component for effective free will, as I hypothesized in my last post; Free Will Requirements. But to what degree should things be uncertain, and to what does that apply? Since the term “certain” insinuates an individual's belief of knowledge, regardless of the knowledge being correct, I’ll use the term “knowledge”, to refer to known information which is correct. It seems that a lack of knowledge needs to be involved in free will, because if an individual was completely knowledgeable of everything, then all choices by the individual would be so obvious, that it would be nearly (if not completely) predetermined. Free will implies ability to freely make choices, so if all knowledge was certain, choices would be so obvious, that there would be almost no point. It would be like inputting a math question into a calculator.

Hypothetically, to create any scenario of choice, there seems to be 2 major relevant categories of knowledge; factors, and intent for the scenario. Factors are anything involved in the choice, and intent for the scenario, is the reason that the scenario itself is being applied. Intent for the scenario seems relevant, because if someone has complete knowledge of ulterior reasons for the choice, that would likely affect their decision. For eg, if someone is given the scenario to choose to help an old lady cross the street, they might choose not to, if they are unaware that anyone else is watching, but they might alternatively choose to help the lady, if they are aware that the results will be recorded and made public. 

To create a scenario of general free will, it seems perhaps the individual with free will, should have a lack of complete knowledge of ulterior reasons for the scenario itself. If the individual has complete knowledge of an observer or any potential judgement, that would likely influence their choices. Complete knowledge would likely cause them to make choices for the main purpose of appealing to the scenarios ulterior reasons. 

The degree of knowledge in this world seems to vary from 1 concept or area, to the next, from 1 person to the next, and seems to have varied for humanity from 1 time period to the next. In the modern day, we seem to have vastly more knowledge than in early human history. But we have always seemed to have more confirmable knowledge of physical factors, than concepts or idealisms, such as the purpose of our existence. Development of humanity throughout history, allowing progressive increase of knowledge, could hypothetically be a method of changing and varying scenarios, in which free will can be used.

The lack of knowledge of factors in this world, seems it would be appropriate to cause a lack of obviousness, certainty, and calculable choices, if we are in a scenario of free will. A lack of complete knowledge of the purpose or intent of this world, could be an appropriate aspect to allow more genuinely free choices, without ulterior motives. It seems possible that a lack of knowledge can cause; Unknown Freedom.