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jollyreaper2112

(1,941 posts) Sat Apr 27, 2013, 05:41 PM Apr 2013

Myth of free will? [View all]

I know Sam Harris has talked about this, how our motives we come up with are post hoc rationalizations and how propaganda can affect our thinking in invisible ways. Also talk of the lead poisoning theory and how it ruins impulse control so that a person really is no longer responsible for their own actions. Doesn't excuse the results but questions who is really to blame. I poison the environment and people who grow up there are homicidally crazy, who should we charge with murder?

Has there been a broader debate about this sort of thing? I assume so but want to know where the best discussions have been had. Where is the science pointing?

18 replies

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Myth of free will? [View all] jollyreaper2112 Apr 2013 OP

I think there is a broader debate . . . kickitup Apr 2013 #1

The paradox of crime and punishment: napoleon_in_rags Apr 2013 #2

I think we're at the stage where we are just going through the motions. reformist2 Apr 2013 #4

Maybe the intell community will take the lead. napoleon_in_rags Apr 2013 #8

Right wing Christians keep trying to abolish free will Warpy Apr 2013 #3

moral relativism jollyreaper2112 Apr 2013 #5

What're you talking about? You mean literally poison the environment, like with smog? Honeycombe8 Apr 2013 #6

Basically, yes caraher Apr 2013 #11

I question that study. Honeycombe8 Apr 2013 #14

It's not a single study caraher Apr 2013 #15

Freee Will is the myth of an inflated ego. RagAss Apr 2013 #7

I think people actually do have some degree of free will. The problem comes HiPointDem Apr 2013 #9

Twin studies shows genes have major determinant on life ErikJ Apr 2013 #10

We have free will within a given operaional envelope. rrneck Apr 2013 #12

We are just the product of our genes and environment cpwm17 Apr 2013 #13

We have free will in the sense that our behaviour is unpredictable FarCenter Apr 2013 #16

I have free will Orrex Apr 2013 #17

that is the stuff that worries me jollyreaper2112 Apr 2013 #18