If free will was not real

[Gemini]

What appeal to consequence argument is that? I'd love to hear about it!

There are experiments where people read a statement that science has proved determinism, and some don't, and then both groups are tested on ethical behavior. The studies Dennett references suggest that people who read the statements supporting scientific determinism are less inclined to behave ethically and prosocially.

There are problems with the studies, though. The main one being that the literature the participants read describes something more like fatalism than determinism.

Please feast on it. I certainly enjoy feasting on yours. It's only fair to share.

OM NOM NOM (How many calories have I had today? Best not to think of it...now back to feasting {I love the word "feast" by the way...even more than I love embedded parentheses})!

I make you think? But you're so smart! That makes me feel good

You're not pretentious, but you're smart as hell, Hammy.

I agree with Dan Dennett that compatabilist free will is a version of free will worth wanting... but most people don't just want that. They want contra-causal free will. They know when people are coerced they don't have absolute omnipotent magical free will, but they like to believe that they do have absolute magical freedom when they are not cooerced. They may indeed have a identity crisis or even go into a depression when they learn they are not as free as they think they are: but the truth sometimes does hurt but they should still face it.

They do not however need to despair completely or resign themselves to fatalism.

That's such a great way of putting it, isn't it. A version of free will worth wanting. I really do feel the same as you, in that accepting determinism is actually empowering. Understanding the physical limitation of cognition motivates me to engage in the activities that actually increase my options, and "freedom," if you will. Things like learning, and changing my mind, when the evidence warrants it.

I feel like giving up compatibilism would be compromising with unreflective people who insist on free will being omnipotent and magical, and I don't want to do that.