No one can tell you for certain if we have free will or we don't. [...] Whatever you choose to believe, you will probably want to agree with the philosopher John Locke, who argued that the whole debate is largely irrelevant. If it feels to us like free will, then let's treat it as free will and get on with our lives.
John IronmongerTags: determinism free-will
It is important to distinguish 'pure chance' from 'chance' or 'accident.' Things may happen by chance or accident in a purely deterministic universe...Now there is perhaps a sense of 'could not have done otherwise' in which whether or not a person could or could not have done otherwise depends on whether or not the universe is deterministic.
J.J.C. SmartTags: determinism philosophy random universe chance
The cause-effect sequences in our brains are just as determining, just as inescapable, as anywhere else in Nature.
Corliss LamontTags: science determinism nature will laws-of-nature neuroscience brains cause-and-effect lack-of-free-will causally-determined no-free-will
Which do you think is more valuable to humanity?
a. Finding ways to tell humans that they have free will despite the incontrovertible fact that their actions are completely dictated by the laws of physics as instantiated in our bodies, brains and environments? That is, engaging in the honored philosophical practice of showing that our notion of "free will" can be compatible with determinism?
or
b. Telling people, based on our scientific knowledge of physics, neurology, and behavior, that our actions are predetermined rather than dictated by some ghost in our brains, and then sussing out the consequences of that conclusion and applying them to society?
Of course my answer is b).
Tags: science knowledge determinism society philosophy nature physics ghosts brains neurology laws-of-physics illusion-of-free-will
Can't you see there's a determinism about the fate of nations? They all seem to get what they deserve in the long run.
Malcolm LowryTags: politics determinism history fate destiny nations karma geopolitics just-desserts
The concept of Free Will makes no sense unless associated, somehow or the other, with Absolute Determinism; it is just as a man cannot walk without gravity arresting and spurring his pace simultaneously.
Raheel FarooqTags: determinism free-will fate
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