I've been putting some thought, and actually doing some reading on the idea of free will. It's existence is one thing. I'm leaning towards it not being a thing, and probably consciousness being an illusion as well. But it's mostly guesswork for now, which is all that's relevant.
The problem is the implications of that uncertainty.
How one would behave in a world where people are responsible for their actions, and one where they aren't are totally different.
In a world where they are, we're free to judge and despise them. Feel superiority, etc.. And it's all fine, because we chose to be who we are, and they chose to be who they are.
In it's absence, however, that's the equivalent of yelling at the weather. We don't believe a tornado is a jerk. Instead we'd focus on getting a desirable outcome. Things would be dealt with in a very logical way, as we attempted to dissuade/modify behaviors to get them to fall in line with whatever it is we want.
Or perhaps judging/despising/feeling superiority is the answer that evolution came up with that is more effective at getting the desired results than becoming aware of free will being an illusion, and acting accordingly based on that understanding?
Key point:
When you have a concept that defines how you should live, and you don't know the true nature of that concept, how do you go forward? Does it matter to people that their belief/non-belief in free will has a decent chance of being a fallacy upon which so much of their live's decisions are built?
The problem is the implications of that uncertainty.
How one would behave in a world where people are responsible for their actions, and one where they aren't are totally different.
In a world where they are, we're free to judge and despise them. Feel superiority, etc.. And it's all fine, because we chose to be who we are, and they chose to be who they are.
In it's absence, however, that's the equivalent of yelling at the weather. We don't believe a tornado is a jerk. Instead we'd focus on getting a desirable outcome. Things would be dealt with in a very logical way, as we attempted to dissuade/modify behaviors to get them to fall in line with whatever it is we want.
Or perhaps judging/despising/feeling superiority is the answer that evolution came up with that is more effective at getting the desired results than becoming aware of free will being an illusion, and acting accordingly based on that understanding?
Key point:
When you have a concept that defines how you should live, and you don't know the true nature of that concept, how do you go forward? Does it matter to people that their belief/non-belief in free will has a decent chance of being a fallacy upon which so much of their live's decisions are built?
