Sam Harris: The Delusion of Free Will

[Saz]

[Philly]

[exploited]

I'll give my thoughts here:

It all plays into the artificial dichotomy of nature versus nurture. The brain is malleable. We have certain initial impulses and predispositions, yes, but as anyone who has changed their life can tell you, these can be either changed or suppressed enough to be considered changed.

To argue that we don't have free will is to argue that human beings are incapable of change, both individually and over generations. Both statements are provably false. As we make choices, the hardware of our brain changes. That is simple fact. And if you want to play the determinism game, you have to come to terms with that. Not only are all human beings capable of altering and controlling their behavior (for instance I chose not to smack my wife when she ate my doritos, despite really wanting too), but the choices we make determine our future behavior (absent a smack, hide those doritos bros). That is by definition free will.

[Saz]

[exploited]

These questions are actually kind of important, but not when it comes to selling your soul or making a latte.

[Saz]

[exploited]

You act as if psychosis is a bad thing.

[Saz]

[exploited]

[eynon81]