(September 26, 2012 at 9:04 pm)Tino Wrote:(September 26, 2012 at 3:26 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: Question: How would a world populated with people who have free will be distinguishable from one where they only have the illusion of it?To take a stab at your question I'd need to know what it is that is actually controlling our will in the scenario that free will is an illusion.
Well, it was a rhetorical question, but if you want to run with it, I'm game. I treat the question as philosophical in nature and don't think it can be adequately answered at this time (which is why I take an agnostic position on the free will vs. determinism question).
From a naturalistic point of view (*), one could suppose that the illusion of free will could be based in biological or psychological determinism.
I don't have a strong opinion on this one way or other other - but I do find it interesting and sometimes illuminating to explore how a thing is distinguishable from the illusion of said thing.
(*) I operate under the assumption that you subscribe to naturalism (as do I), and write from that POV. If that isn't your POV, then I'd be happy to present a hypothetical from another POV.
