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I dont have links, but I keep seeing mentions of how the lack of free will would mean various things should be considered with equal weight.
For example, someone who does something terrible had no more control over the terrible thing they did than someone who accomplishes something great.
But this ignores that we still endure suffering and feel the effects of the suffering on our journey, no matter the destination. Even with a lack of free will, despite that it’s not up to the person who accomplishes something great, that they were along for the ride, they still experienced, they still endured.
And for the person that did something terrible, it doesn’t mean they should escape any attempts at reform. Just because they aren’t deciding to reform of their own (nonexistent) free will doesn’t mean that reform is going to fail.
We can lack free will and be the products of a complex series of inputs (perhaps a lack of free will would necessitate that, even.) The choice of a matter may be an illusion, but we’re still the product of the interaction of our selves and the environment.
I feel like Sam Harris gets this part right: A lack of free will should be motivation for compassion. I don’t think it should be a reason to write off an accomplishment or ignore a travesty or justify bad choices.
updated: 2023-10-27 05:55:40
generated: 2024-03-07