I don't agree with the scientist in this case, but it did get me thinking about it. It isn't like the guy is a kook, he makes some very salient points; there are some unambiguous things were there is no "free will" even though most people think there is; but the premise that these are mappable onto all things thereby leading to the conclusion that free will is an illusion, doesn't really sit well with me. I don't have great data to back this view, beyond personal experience, I feel that I have free will, and maybe that is enough.

[–] KhanumBallZ 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's a bit of a glass half full vs. half empty / chicken vs. the egg sort of thing.

If one [believes that one lacks free will], one will behave in an entirely different manner compared to believing that one [does have free will]. So the belief in free will, or lack thereof, will ironically have a massive impact on the course of our lives.

[–] absGeekNZ 2 points 1 year ago

This is the same argument for inflation expectation. If one believes there will be high inflation, one drives inflation by their actions.

Any of the big questions in psychology and philosophy are always difficult; there are always swings in ideas and fashionable ideas....I'm not sure if one lacked the belief in free will; as someone who thinks we do have free will; what or how they would behave.

[–] biddy@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

No, I don't think so. Living as if you don't have free will would be impossible, you'd never get anything done. We have to ignore a lot of interesting philosophy in order to function.

load more comments (9 replies)