Exploring Free Will: Determinism and Chaos

Key Concepts

• Causality in Physics:

  • Everything has an antecedent cause; everything is predetermined.
  • Stochastic uncertainty and chaos introduce randomness and unpredictability.

• Influences on Decision Making:

  • Current environment and past experiences influence decisions.
  • Questioning whether choices are made freely or predetermined by past experiences.

Application Examples

• Comedy Situations:

  • Choices in how to recover from a joke that falls flat.
  • Experienced performers have preloaded responses based on past experiences.

• Sports Analogies:

  • A football player reacting to the quarterback’s movements based on training and experience.
  • Instantaneous reactions may not be considered free will, but prepared responses to stimuli could involve past free will.

Philosophical Debate

• Knowledge and Determinism:

  • Knowing that life is predetermined vs. living with the illusion of free will.
  • Psychological and biological perspectives on whether one can make free choices if everything is predetermined.

• Personal Position:

  • Neil leans towards the absence of free will, arguing society should show more compassion.
  • Charles believes it’s the 1% of free will that leads to progress and compassion.

Societal Implications

• Determinism and Compassion:

  • Understanding determinism could foster compassion towards addiction, autism, epilepsy, etc.
  • Reflecting on how society treats individuals based on their perceived control over actions.

• Restorative Justice:

  • Advocating for restorative justice and understanding the sociological forces at play.

Discussion on Neurology and Disorders

• Brain Disorders and Free Will:
  • Parallels drawn with brain disorders influencing behavior, questioning free will (e.g., epilepsy, personality disorders).
  • Example of the Texas shooter with a brain tumor issues perspective on free will and control.

Philosophical Conclusion

• Perimeter of Ignorance:
  • The concept of a shifting perimeter as we learn more about human behavior.
  • Potential limit to this perimeter where free will must be acknowledged.
  • Acceptance of fluidity and uncertainty in the concept of free will.

Final Thoughts

• Marriage and Free Will:

  • Humorous note on personal freedom within marriage.

• Conclusion:

  • Agreement on the dynamic nature of the free will debate.
  • Encouragement to continue exploring and questioning.

Neil deGrasse Tyson's final message: "Keep looking up."